Handonghun "Yoon's Prompt Suspension Needed"
Ruling Party Turmoil Ahead of Impeachment Vote
Yoon Still Silent... Aides Also Keep Quiet
President Yoon Suk-yeol announced the lifting of the emergency martial law in the early morning of the 4th at the Yongsan Presidential Office. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 6th, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, effectively expressed support for the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol, significantly increasing the likelihood that the impeachment motion against President Yoon will pass through the National Assembly. Despite the rapidly intensifying impeachment momentum, the Blue House has maintained its previous stance of 'no wrongdoing' and has not issued any additional statements.
At an emergency Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Leader Han said, "I judge that the prompt suspension of President Yoon Seok-yeol's duties is necessary to protect the Republic of Korea and its people."
This stance contrasts with his statement the previous day, where he said, "As party leader, I will strive to prevent this impeachment from passing to avoid harm to the people and supporters caused by unprepared chaos."
Regarding the reason for switching from opposing to supporting impeachment, Leader Han stated, "Last night, I confirmed through reliable sources that on the day the martial law was declared, President Yoon ordered Yeo In-hyung, the counterintelligence commander and his high school junior, to arrest key politicians on the grounds that they were anti-state forces, and that the president mobilized intelligence agencies to detain politicians."
In particular, Leader Han added, "I also identified that Yeo In-hyung had a specific plan to detain those arrested politicians at a detention facility in Gwacheon."
Accordingly, there is an analysis that the possibility of President Yoon's impeachment has greatly increased.
The requirement for passing the impeachment motion is approval by two-thirds of the total members of the National Assembly. Based on 300 members, 200 votes are needed. Considering that the opposition holds 192 seats, at least 8 defections from the ruling party are required for passage, and if pro-Han faction members join, passage is likely.
As Leader Han shifted his position to support impeachment, the atmosphere around Yongsan rapidly cooled.
Moreover, the prosecution has formed a special investigation headquarters for President Yoon's 'martial law incident' and has begun a full-scale investigation. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office appointed Park Se-hyun, head of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, as the chief of the headquarters and announced, "We will conduct a strict investigation into the related cases."
Although the atmosphere is volatile ahead of the National Assembly vote on President Yoon's impeachment motion, President Yoon has remained effectively secluded, not appearing publicly since his statement on lifting martial law.
The Blue House's chief public relations officer, spokesperson, as well as chiefs and senior secretaries, have all remained silent.
People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and floor leader Choo Kyung-ho are listening attentively to the remarks of committee members at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 5th. Photo by Yonhap News
In political circles, there were predictions that President Yoon might deliver a public address asserting the legality of the martial law, but many believed that maintaining the stance of 'no wrongdoing' would only backfire.
The Blue House is struggling to find a solution but appears to have no clear plan.
President Yoon's approval rating plummeted to the low to mid-teens following the martial law incident.
According to a survey conducted by Korea Gallup from the 3rd to the 5th among 1,001 voters aged 18 and over nationwide (with a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points), President Yoon's job approval rating was 16%.
Reflecting the aftermath of the martial law incident, the rating was 13% based on data collected on the 4th and 5th.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
