South Korean President Apologizes for Imposing Martial Law

The President of South Korea, just hours before the start of his impeachment session in parliament, apologized to the people of the country in a televised speech for issuing a martial law order. Yoon Suk-yeol stated in his televised remarks on Saturday morning, December 17, that his order to implement martial law stemmed from 'despair' and that he is not seeking to evade legal and political responsibility for that decision. In this televised speech, which was his first public appearance since Tuesday evening, he emphasized that he is very sorry and wants to 'sincerely apologize to those who were shocked.' The South Korean President unexpectedly declared martial law late Tuesday evening, but his order was revoked six hours later by a parliamentary resolution. The President's recent remarks came just hours before the start of his impeachment session in the country's parliament. Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the ruling 'People Power' party, stated after Mr. Yoon's speech that the President is no longer in a position to perform public duties and that 'his resignation is inevitable.' The leader of the ruling party had previously referred to Yoon Suk-yeol as 'a danger to the country' and stated that he must be removed from power. The impeachment bill against the South Korean President was submitted by the Democratic Party, but the People Power Party, of which Yoon Suk-yeol is a member, has stated that it opposes the impeachment. Some members of the 'People Power Party' have urged Mr. Yoon to resign before the impeachment and not to repeat the case of Park Geun-hye. Park Geun-hye, the former President of South Korea, who was accused of 'financial corruption and abuse of power,' despite protests against her, was unwilling to step down and was ultimately removed from office by parliament in December 2016.