Han Dong-hoon has taken responsibility for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, stating that he is to blame
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South Korea’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) chief Han Dong-hoon announced his resignation following the ouster of the country’s president Yoon Suk Yeol.
South Korea's parliament voted Sunday to impeach Yun over his decision to temporarily declare martial law in early December, with some members of the president's PPP backing the move.
I am resigning as leader of the People’s Power Party,” Han told a press conference at the National Assembly on Monday.
He explained that it had become “impossible” for him to carry out his duties after all five members of the PPP Supreme Council expressed their intention to resign in response to Yoon’s ouster
Although I looked for ways to depose someone, I couldn’t find another resolution. I have made a mistake and I apologize,” the party leader said.
The PPP boycotted the first vote on Yoon’s impeachment on December 7, hoping to persuade him to resign voluntarily. But when the head of state refused to do so, Han changed his stance and said ousting Yoon remained the only way to preserve democracy in South Korea.
The PPP leader, who has been in office since July, said at a press conference that he had “no regrets” for supporting the crackdown on Yoon. Han insisted that the declaration of martial law was wrong and “illegal” even if it was “imposed by the president of our party”.
PPP’s newly appointed floor leader Kweon Seong-dong will now be the party’s acting chief.
The political crisis in South Korea erupted on Dec. 3 when Yoon delivered a dramatic television speech, in which he declared a martial law emergency because the opposition – which he accused of being sympathetic to North Korea – was preparing for a “coup” for supporting his claim He did not provide any evidence.
The 190 lawmakers who managed to reach the National Assembly despite a military siege voted unanimously to lift the order within hours. Thousands of people took to the streets to condemn the president’s actions.
Less than six hours after martial law was imposed, the head of state announced that he had decided to reverse his decision.
Facing an investigation into a possible coup last week, Yoon defended the martial law, calling it “a very considerable political decision.” He vowed to “fight” efforts to impeach or investigate him.