demonstrations announced
South Korea’s president bows – and wants to stay in office
12/7/2024 – 2:17 a.mReading time: 1 min.
Despite widespread criticism, South Korean president Yoon Suk yeol wants to remain in office. He bowed as a gesture of apology during a televised speech.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has apologized to the population for the “confusion” caused by his declaration of martial law. in a brief speech on television, he bowed deeply – a gesture of humility in Korea. He wants to continue working with the ruling PP party and keep his post until the end of his term in office. But the party can decide about his future, he said. He ruled out a new declaration of martial law.
Yoon Suk Yeol is facing massive calls for his resignation after he declared martial law on Tuesday evening over a budget dispute between his PP party and the main opposition DP. Shortly after his speech, the head of Yoon’s party described the head of state’s resignation as certain.
Yoon’s reasoning was to protect a “liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist troops and to eliminate anti-state elements.” Even though the head of state lifted martial law a few hours later on Wednesday after massive resistance and a veto from parliament, he still plunged the country into political chaos.
Police expect mass protests against Yoon on saturday. The parliament in Seoul will vote on a motion to impeach the head of state at around 5 p.m. The motion was submitted by the opposition. Although it has a comfortable majority in parliament, it needs votes from the governing party for the necessary two-thirds majority.