By Timothy W. Martin and Soobin Kim
SEOUL -- The head of South Korea's ruling party suggested the country's president could move again to declare martial law, arguing for a swift suspension of power for the embattled Yoon Suk Yeol.
The notion that South Korea could fall into martial order for the second time this week unnerved a country already on edge. Its main stock indexes fell. South Korea's defense ministry said no military measures have been ordered related to martial law, adding there was no need to be concerned.
The right-wing Yoon faces an impeachment vote that could occur as early as Saturday, after placing South Korea under martial law for several hours before he was forced to reverse his decision. A two-thirds majority vote at the National Assembly is required to kick-start a lengthy process that would eventually remove Yoon from office. Opposition lawmakers will need to peel off some members of Yoon's party to succeed.
At a Friday leadership meeting, Han Dong-hoon, the leader of Yoon's People Power Party, said that Yoon's presidential powers should be swiftly suspended, arguing inaction is putting the country in danger. Yoon has yet to admit wrongdoing and failed to take measures against military officials who engaged in unlawful actions, Han said.
"Should Yoon continue to serve as president, I think there is great risk for extreme actions like this martial-law declaration to happen again," Han said. "I believe now is the time to think only about South Korea and its people."
South Korea's presidential office didn't immediately comment. Yoon hasn't spoken publicly since lifting martial law in an early Wednesday morning address, about six hours after declaring an intention to do so.
A 63-year-old career prosecutor, Yoon is now fighting for his political life from inside and outside his party ranks. His popularity sank to record lows. Just 13% of respondents asked after the martial-law declaration approve of Yoon's job performance, a 6-point drop from the prior week, according to a Gallup Korea poll released on Friday.
South Korea's political polarization is worse than the U.S., and the highest among 19 countries surveyed by Pew Research Center. In this calendar year alone, South Korea's opposition leader has been stabbed in the neck, another lawmaker was clubbed in the head and top officials from both parties have been prosecuted. And now, a vote for impeachment for the first time since 2016.
Nearly three-quarters of South Koreans back impeaching Yoon, according to a Realmeter poll from Wednesday.
Opposition lawmakers need fewer than 10 ruling-party members to win the impeachment vote at the country's unicameral, 300-seat National Assembly. On Friday, Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae, a six-term lawmaker, became the first ruling-party legislator to publicly express support for Yoon's impeachment.
Not long ago, Han, 51, served as Yoon's justice minister and a close confidant. On Friday, Han stopped short of a direct call for impeachment. He has previously urged Yoon to leave the ruling People Power Party.
Write to Timothy W. Martin at Timothy.Martin@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 06, 2024 00:16 ET (05:16 GMT)
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