After an impeachment vote against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol failed on Saturday, opposition lawmakers have accused his ruling party of staging a “second coup” by clinging on to power.
After Yoon shocked the nation last week by declaring martial law next year, tens of thousands of people had mobilized to demand his resignation or prosecution.
However, the People Power Party ( PPP ) announced instead that its party leader and prime minister would lead the nation until the president’s “orderly exit,” and the vote to impeach Yoon was unsuccessful.
The opposition Democratic Party has criticized the move as unlawful, vowing to keep impeachment vote against Yoon every Saturday.
PPP head Han Dong-hoon stated in a public address on Sunday that Yoon would not be a part of international or domestic affairs until he resigned first, adding that Han Duck-soo, the prime minister, would take over government affairs in the interim.
Before his departure, the President will not be involved in any state politics, including politics, according to Han, the party’s head.
But, Democratic Party ground president Park Chan-dae described the proposed strategy as” an illegal, illegal next rebellion and a second coup”.
Similar comments made by Democratic Party member Kim Min-seok were made about the plan, saying that Han, the PPP leader, “nobody gave” him the authority to make those decisions.
” The Prime Minister and the ruling group’s news that they would simultaneously exercise the power of the leader, which no one has given them, is evidently illegal” he said, according to a Korea Herald statement.
On social media, some South Koreans voiced their concerns, saying there is a lack of clarity on who is leading the country.
At a lecture on Monday, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the president still holds control of the military causes. That means in the event of any foreign policy situations, including any possible threat from North Korea, Yoon is however, in principle, able to make executive decisions.
According to political science professor Shin Yul of Myongji University,” the president may take the lead again whenever he changes his mind.”
” No one will be able to stop him, if Yoon insists”.
On Saturday Yoon made his first appearance since the military law declaration, pledging that he would not establish another military law attempt, and apologising for the “anxiety and pain” caused by his charter.
However, the opposition has insisted that they” will not give up” on impeaching Yoon.
After Saturday’s unsuccessful impeachment attempt, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung told a disappointed crowd,” We will definitely return this country to normal by Christmas and the end of the year. We will definitely give it to you as a Christmas and end-of-year gift.”
He again urged Yoon to resign on Monday, telling a press conference that Yoon’s actions were “destroying” South Korea and its economy.
Yuna Ku provided additional reporting in Seoul.