South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has apologized for declaring martial law last Tuesday, and said he would not do it again
Lawmakers swiftly overturned the martial law order. Now an opposition vote to impeach Yoon is scheduled for Saturday
The opposition coalition, which holds a majority in parliament, needs just eight members of Yoon’s party to impeach him
The president was scheduled to visit parliament on Friday, but changed his mind following protests from opposition lawmakers who formed a human wall to stop him
Earlier on Friday, in the first clear sign his own party may vote with the opposition, the leader of Yoon’s ruling party called for his swift suspension – he had earlier refused to back impeachment moves.
published at 07:10
07:10
President Yoon’s speech today came just hours after his party reaffirmed its opposition to the impeachment vote.
Late last night, senior members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) confirmed that their official stance on the vote remained unchanged, despite party leader Han Dong-hoon stating earlier that day that he supported the immediate suspension of Yoon as president.
The party’s reaffirmation followed a lengthy meeting of some of its lawmakers on Friday. Han didn’t attend the meeting.
The opposition needs eight defectors from the PPP this afternoon for the motion to pass.
