South Korea’s president apologizes for martial law

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol apologized to the public for causing “discomfort and anxiety” with his martial law declaration on Tuesday night in a nationally televised speech on Saturday morning hours before the National Assembly’s vote on whether to impeach him.

Yoon said he was ready to take “legal and political responsibility” for his decision to declare martial law, which was born out of “desperation.” 

He also vowed there would not be a second declaration of martial law, which has been rumored since Friday. 
 
His apology comes three days after he surprised the nation on Tuesday night with the sudden martial law decree, which was lifted six hours later following the National Assembly’s vote to revoke it.

It was also his first appearance since Wednesday morning when he declared the end of martial law.

His short-lived martial law declaration invited public fury and calls for his resignation. But the president did not offer to step down in the speech. 

The opposition parties, including the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), filed a motion to impeach Mr. Yoon for committing “insurgency” early Thursday.

The National Assembly will vote on whether to impeach the president at 5 pm (8:00 GMT) on Saturday.

To impeach Yoon, the opposition party needs at least eight votes from the president’s governing party, the People Power Party, or PPP.

Shortly after President Yoon’s speech, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon urged him to step down.

“It has become impossible for him to carry out normal duty as president,” said Han. “His early resignation has become inevitable.”

If impeached, Mr. Yoon would be suspended from office until the Constitutional Court decides whether to reinstate or remove him.

Write to Sookyung Seo at skseo@hankyung.com
Joel Levin edited this article.