The party of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says he will step aside after his failed attempt to invoke martial law last week.
People Power Party leader Han Dong Hoon explained that Yoon would resign sometime soon and would cease all official business immediately. “Through the orderly early resignation of the president, we will minimize the confusion to South Korea and its people, stably resolve the political situation and recover liberal democracy,” he said Sunday. “Even before his resignation, the president will not be involved in state affairs, including diplomacy.”
Han said, along with Prime Minister Han Duck Soo, he would help govern Seoul through the transition of power. During a joint presser, the two leaders stressed the importance of South Korea maintaining a strong military relationship with the US and Japan.
Yoon’s downfall started Tuesday night when he declared martial law. The South Korean Parliament quickly voted against the order, and Yoon retracted his declaration.
The opposition Democratic Party held an impeachment vote to remove Yoon from office, which he survived with the backing of his PPP. Yoon then apologized for invoking martial law but did not discuss resigning. The Democratic Party is also calling for the president’s arrest.
The opposition is saying that Yoon and his PPP are not living up to his commitment to step away from official duties as he accepted the interior minister’s resignation. “The exclusion of President Yoon from duties was a blatant lie,” a Democratic Party statement said.
