Yoon’s martial law bid seen as ‘political suicide’ as impeachment looms

Calls have mounted for the resignation of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol after his ill-conceived imposition of martial law that he reversed within hours as the country descended into a political crisis, with parliament set to impeach him as early as Friday.

His political career was all but over, said analysts, dealing a huge blow to traditional conservative forces in the country, but the more intriguing question for now was how he would be dealt with as previous presidents had been sent to jail for lesser indiscretions.

The embattled leader’s gamble late on Tuesday night and a U-turn barely six hours later after lawmakers scrambled to vote against the decree was almost unanimously called a “political suicide” by observers.

An impeachment motion filed by opposition parties on Wednesday could be put to a vote as early as Friday. It would require the support of two-thirds of parliament for the motion and then the backing of at least six Constitutional Court justices. The motion was submitted jointly by the main opposition Democratic Party and five smaller opposition parties.

Yoon’s senior advisers and secretaries offered to resign collectively, with Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun later following suit and saying in a statement: “I deeply regret and take full responsibility for all matters related to the martial law.”

On Wednesday, thousands of South Koreans marched in the streets of Seoul demanding Yoon’s resignation over his martial law move – the first such imposition by a leader in the country since 1980.