South Korea’s opposition has accused the ruling party of “second act” by refusing to prosecute President Yoon Suk Yeol, over last week’s botched declaration of martial law.
Yoon’s efforts to end civilian rule on Tuesday lasted only six hours after lawmakers clashed with soldiers in the parliament building. before removing the order of the vote.
“This is an illegitimate, unconstitutional act of second rebellion and second act,” said Park Chan-dae, the area leader of the opposition Democratic Party, referring to the boycott protest vote by the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) and Yoon’s failed bid for office.
Under the constitution of South Korea, the president remains the head of government and commander-in-chief of the army, unless he is incapacitated or resigns.
But senior PPP politicians claimed Yoon could continue as president while delegating his powers to the prime minister – an arrangement Park described as “a legal controversy without a legal basis”. Opposition parties have vowed to introduce another impeachment motion this week.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Monday that prosecutors had “book Yoon” — a process that involves formally naming subjects of a criminal investigation. Police are reportedly considering placing an overseas ban on Yoon while they investigate his botched attempt to impose martial law.
On Saturday, Yoon apologized for his brief attempt to impose martial law He promised some face of law or statehours before Parliament took a vote on it. Yoon said he was “disturbed” by the decision, which he said was born out of desperation, and vowed not to try to impose martial law again.
Three opposition parties have filed a complaint against Yoon, former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun and military law enforcement chief Park An-su, accusing them of sedition. The crime of leading a rebellion is punishable by death or life imprisonment.
Kim, who offered his resignation on Wednesday, was seen as a central figure in Tuesday’s brief martial law declaration. A senior military official and members of the opposition in the filing to prosecute Yoon said Kim Yoon made the request.
Saturday night’s vote in the national assembly led to a political gridlock and uncertainty that has dominated the current day. South Korea – Asia’s fourth largest economy and the main US confederates.
PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said at the weekend that Yoon would not be involved in foreign affairs and other public affairs, when the government turned to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
Han Yoon told the television an apology effectively promising to leave office early.
But Woo Won-shik, national assembly speaker and Democratic Party MP, said delegating the president’s authority to the prime minister and ruling party without Yoon’s first request was unconstitutional.
On Monday, the defense ministry created further confusion when it said Yoon was still a South Korean military leader.
Han Duck-soo said the government would do its best to “maintain trust with our partners” – the relationship with the United States and Japan – while experts warned that continued uncertainty could threaten regional stability.
“Leaders in Russia, China, and especially North KoreaIt is likely that South Korea is watching the political upheaval with glee, feeling a geopolitical advantage, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. “North Korea will probably take a wait-and-see approach to these events, but it cannot be ruled out that Pyongyang will try to divide Seoul.”
In an effort to reassure the public, multiple military leaders, acting as the defense minister, said they would withdraw any orders to impose another martial law.