SEOUL: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday apologized for causing public anxiety and vowed he would not attempt a second martial law decree, in an apparent last-minute bid to save his presidency ahead of an impeachment vote.
In a televised address, Yoon said his decision to impose martial law late Tuesday was a “desperate decision made by me, the president, as the final responsible authority for state affairs.”
“I deeply regret the anxiety and inconvenience this has caused to people. I sincerely apologize to the citizens who were greatly appalled by this,” Yoon added, before bowing in front of the camera.
Yoon also said he would take “full legal and political responsibility” and would “leave the responsibility of stabilizing the political situation, as well as my term, to our party.”
“The future governance will be jointly handled by our party and the government,” he added.
It was not clear how Yoon would yield any presidential authority to his ruling People Power Party, analysts said, since there does not appear to be an established political process for doing so.
“The only way I know of that he can be relieved from duty is impeachment or resignation,” said Ben Engel, who teaches political science and international relations at Dankook University outside Seoul.
Yoon, frustrated for months by what he saw as opposition attempts to obstruct his governance, declared martial law late Tuesday, claiming it was necessary to “crush anti-state forces” and “protect constitutional order.”
Within hours, South Korean lawmakers overturned the decree, after fighting their way through police and military personnel who had been sent to the National Assembly Building.
The opposition, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, plans to vote on Yoon’s impeachment late Saturday.
(VOA)
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