South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol vows ‘fight to the end’ happymamay

Trapped South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol He defended his sudden decision to declare martial law last week, saying he did so to protect the country’s democracy.

In a surprise televised speech on Thursday, he said the attempt was a legal decision to “prevent the collapse” of democracy And the “parliamentary dictatorship” confronts the opposition.

Yoon suggested he would not step down before the second impeachment vote in Parliament on Saturday.

He said: “I will stand firm whether I am impeached or investigated.” “I will fight to the end.”

He confronts the president and his allies Investigations on charges of rebellion, and many of them were banned from leaving South Korea.

But Yoon denied that his martial law order amounted to an act of rebellion, claiming that his political opponents were now creating “false incitement” to bring him down.

In his first speech since his speech Apology over the weekendHe repeated many of the same arguments he had used the night he declared martial law: that opposition was dangerous, and that by seizing power, he was trying to protect the public and defend democracy.

But Yoon added that he would not shirk his “legal and political responsibilities.”

last weekend, The attempt by opposition representatives to remove the president failed After members of his ruling party boycotted the vote. But opposition members are scheduled to hold another impeachment vote this weekend, and have pledged to hold a vote every Saturday until Yoon is removed from office.

Yoon’s party had hoped to persuade the president to leave office early, rather than force him to step down.

Minutes before Yoon spoke, his party leader, Han Dong-hoon, appeared on television, saying the matter had become clear The president will not step down. Hahn then urged party members to vote to remove him from office on Saturday.

If South Korea’s parliament passes the impeachment bill, a trial will be held before a constitutional court. Two-thirds of that court would have to maintain a majority for Yoon to be permanently removed from office.

Yoon has been a weak president since the opposition won the April general election by a landslide – his government was unable to pass the laws it wanted, and was forced to veto bills proposed by the opposition.

Yoon also accused North Korean sympathizers of trying to undermine his government when he declared martial law last December 3.

Advertisement The country was plunged into political turmoil. Protesters confronted security forces in front of the National Assembly building while lawmakers rushed to vote to reject Yoon’s order.

Yoon withdrew the martial law order hours after it was blocked by lawmakers.

Since then the country has remained on the brink of abyss. There were massive protests and strikes demanding Yoon’s dismissal, as was the presidential office It was raided on Wednesday Yoon faces multiple investigations on charges of rebellion and treason.

Meanwhile, former Defense Minister Kim Young-hyun, who resigned and took charge of martial law, introduced… Suicide attempt while in detention on Wednesday. He is in stable condition.