South Korean lawmakers support suspension of president's powers after martial law

South Korean lawmakers are calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's constitutional powers to be suspended after his brief declaration of martial law earlier this week, raising the prospects of an impeachment.

Opposition parties are pushing for a parliamentary vote on Yoon's impeachment on Saturday, calling his declaration of martial law an “unconstitutional and illegal rebellion or coup.”

President Yoon shocked his Democratic allies by declaring martial law Tuesday night, plunging the East Asian country into chaos. The South Korean parliament voted to revoke martial law six hours later, but the episode effectively froze the country's politics. Thousands of protesters have marched through the streets of Seoul since Wednesday, calling for Yoon's resignation and an investigation.

However, adopting a motion for impeachment would be They need the support of some members of the president's People Power Party to achieve the required two-thirds majority. The opposition parties that jointly filed the impeachment motion have a total of 192 seats. The PPP has 108 legislators.

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Leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, bottom center, shouts slogans during a joint news conference with members of civil society and the five political parties. opposition to condemn the ruling People's Power Party at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Friday. , December 6, 2024. (Dong-ju Park/Yonhap via AP)

At a party meeting, PPP leader Han Dong-hun said it was important to quickly suspend Yoon's presidential duties and power, saying he posed a “significant risk of extreme actions , as a new attempt to impose martial law, which could potentially put the Republic of Korea out of action.” and its citizens in great danger.

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Han said he had received intelligence that the president had ordered the arrest of unspecified politicians on charges of “anti-state activities” during martial law.

Leader of South Korea's ruling People Power Party Han Dong-hun, right, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, December 6 2024. (Jo Sung-bong/Newsis via AP)

Han leads a minority faction within the ruling party, and 18 lawmakers from his faction voted with opposition lawmakers to overturn Yoon's martial law decree.

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If Yoon is impeached, he will be suspended until the Constitutional Court rules on whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential power.

The leader of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, said in a televised speech on Friday that it was crucial to suspend Yoon as “quickly as possible”.

Protesters head toward the presidential office after a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Lee said Yoon's application of martial law amounted to “a rebellion and also a self-coup.” He said Yoon's decision caused serious damage to the country's image and crippled foreign policy, highlighting criticism from the Biden administration and foreign leaders who canceled visits to South Korea.

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President Yoon gave no response to Han's comments. He has also not made a public appearance since announcing on television the lifting of martial law.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.