South Korean President Yoon stands firm amid calls for resignation

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose attempt to impose martial law failed last week, declared on Thursday that he has no intention of stepping down despite mounting pressure from lawmakers and the public.

“Whether it is impeachment or investigation, I will face it confidently,” Yoon stated during a televised address, referencing both the impeachment efforts and ongoing investigations surrounding his brief declaration of martial law.

Yoon criticized the Democratic Party (DP), the primary opposition party, accusing it of misrepresenting his actions. “The opposition party is performing a knife dance by calling martial law an uprising,” Yoon said. He claimed that the DP’s actions were the primary reason for last week’s martial law declaration, accusing them of paralyzing national politics through their impeachment strategies. “The purpose of martial law was to warn the massive opposition party to cease their anti-state behavior by exposing their misconduct to the people,” Yoon argued.

The 30-minute speech marked Yoon’s second public address since the abrupt lifting of martial law on December 4. During a prior appearance before an impeachment vote in the National Assembly, Yoon apologized for the political turmoil caused by his decree but refrained from elaborating on his decision to deploy military forces to South Korea’s legislature.

Yoon’s latest address followed a police raid on his office, where authorities seized documents related to the martial law declaration. He is currently under investigation for alleged involvement in an uprising, with prosecutors naming him as a suspect. The chief of the Corruption Investigation Office confirmed the possibility of Yoon’s arrest under these charges.

Despite his defiance, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), expressed hopes that party lawmakers would support a second impeachment vote scheduled for Saturday. “I trust that our party lawmakers will vote for the country and the people,” Han stated. He acknowledged that he had sought alternative solutions but found none, ultimately supporting impeachment.

In stark contrast, opposition lawmakers questioned Yoon’s mental stability. Park Jie-won, a senior DP member, harshly criticized Yoon’s address, writing on Facebook: “Yoon Suk Yeol is still crazy. We cannot allow this madman to hold the presidential post and control of the military for even a second.”

Former President Moon Jae-in also weighed in, condemning the current administration. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Moon called the situation “an abnormal state that must not persist.” He urged the National Assembly to restore stability and peace for the South Korean people.

Public sentiment overwhelmingly favors Yoon’s resignation or removal. A survey conducted by RealMeter on Thursday revealed that 74.8% of respondents supported the president’s immediate resignation or impeachment. Protests advocating for Yoon’s dismissal continue to grow nationwide.