According to Han Dong-hoon, "credible evidence" indicates that the president planned to detain political figures.
The chairman of the ruling party in South Korea has demanded that President Yoon Suk-yeol's authority be immediately suspended, pointing to "credible evidence" that he tried to arrest political figures after declaring martial law for a brief period of time.Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party (PPP), who had previously declared that he would resist attempts to remove Yoon from office, claimed that "newly emerging facts" had swung the balance against the president.
"I discovered last night that the president mobilized intelligence agencies and gave the defense counter-intelligence commander orders to arrest key political figures, labeling them antistate actors," Han stated.
Han continued, "I have stated that I would attempt to stop the impeachment bill from passing this time in order to keep this nation from plunging into even more chaos."
"But given what has come to light, I think it is imperative to prevent President Yoon from using his presidential authority as soon as possible in order to safeguard South Korea and our citizens."
According to Han, Yoon had not admitted that declaring martial law was unlawful and incorrect, and if he remained in office, there was a "significant risk" that he would repeat such drastic measures.
In an unexpected broadcast speech to the country, Yoon declared the imposition of martial law for almost six hours on Tuesday night, citing threats from North Korean sympathizers and "anti-state forces."
Yoon's directive was swiftly overturned by the National Assembly, which voted 190-0 to do so.
At around four in the morning, Yoon revoked the order, but not before military had surrounded the National Assembly and engaged in combat with lawmakers and demonstrators.
Along with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Army Chief of Staff General Park An-su, and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, Yoon is also being investigated for treason and might be impeached, according to local media sources.
A significant change in the ruling party's approach to the situation has been brought about by Han's call. Han is the justice minister and one of Yoon's main PPP opponents.
To impeach Yoon, the opposition Democratic Party has asked for a vote on Saturday night. However, in order to obtain the required two-thirds majority in the 300-member National Assembly, it must receive at least eight votes from the ruling party.
The Constitutional Court of South Korea would next decide whether to uphold Yoon's dismissal from office if the motion was granted.
The PPP had previously stated that it would oppose Yoon's impeachment; some observers speculate that members were afraid of the reaction that would result from defying their own party, as happened after former President Park Geun-hye was impeached in 2016.
Prior to her pardon, Park received a 20-year prison sentence for corruption.
Since South Korea's democratic transition in the late 1980s, four of its seven presidents—excluding Yoon—have been impeached or imprisoned for corruption.
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