South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing increasing pressure to resign over his failed attempt to impose martial law, as parliament nears a vote on his impeachment.
In the capital, Seoul, there were street protests for a second day demanding Yoon’s resignation, but police said they were investigating a “coup”.
The opposition is pushing for a vote on the motion to impeach Yoon on Saturday, although the president’s party has said it is against it.
A two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament requires at least eight members to vote for Yun’s impeachment.
South Korea was plunged into political turmoil late Tuesday when Yoon declared a shock martial law.
He cited threats from “anti-state forces” and North Korea. However, it soon became clear that his move was prompted not by external threats but by his own domestic political troubles.
Yoon withdrew the announcement six hours later after MPs rejected it. Some lawmakers jumped over barricades and fences to rally in parliament and get past security forces to overturn Yoon’s order.
His attempt to rule by martial law led to public outrage and street protests. He has not spoken publicly since reversing his decision early Wednesday morning.
Before his attempt to put the country under military rule, Yoon was beset by low popularity ratings, corruption allegations and an opposition-led legislature that made him a lame-duck leader.
More anti-Yoon rallies will be held in Seoul later Thursday. They are expected to grow larger as people gather after work or school. A few rallies were also held in support of him but they were very small.
Some lawmakers have stayed with the National Assembly to ensure they are ready to revoke another martial law order if Yoon tries again.
Woo Jong-soo, head of the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, said authorities have opened an investigation against Yoon on charges of rebellion following a complaint by the opposition. Treason is punishable by death and exceeds presidential immunity.
The National Assembly began probing the martial law declaration on Thursday.
“The Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s declaration of emergency martial law has caused great confusion and fear among our people,” said Kim Seung-won, a lawmaker from the opposition Democratic Party.
Kim Yong-hyun, Yoon’s defense minister, resigned on Thursday and assumed full responsibility for the martial law declaration.
Interior Minister Lee Sang-min told a parliamentary hearing that it was Kim who suggested martial law to Yoon. South Korean media have published similar reports.
During the interrogation, it became clear that some people knew about Yoon’s plan. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho learned about it on the news.
Army chief Park Un-su said he was handed the text of the martial law notice only on Tuesday night.
“The four of us were going through the draft … Although we are military experts, we are not experts in martial law. Time was running out and we were all thinking, ‘What should we do, what should we do?’ Told the MP.
A motion to impeach Yoon was tabled in parliament late Wednesday and South Korean law requires it to be voted on within 72 hours.
The main opposition Democratic Party is demanding a vote on Saturday evening.
If the impeachment is upheld, the president is immediately suspended from office and the prime minister becomes acting president.
A hearing will then be held before the Constitutional Court, a nine-member body that oversees the branches of South Korea’s government. The process can take up to 180 days.
If six members of the court vote to sustain the impeachment, the president is removed from office.
