South Korea: opposition accuses ruling party of “second coup”

South Korea’s opposition on Monday accused the ruling party of committing a “second coup d’état” by refusing to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol, after his failed attempt to impose martial law, and by being guilty of maneuvers “illegal and unconstitutional” to continue to govern.

South Korea plunged into political chaos on Tuesday evening, when Mr. Yoon unexpectedly proclaimed martial law, before being forced to repeal it six hours later, under pressure from Parliament and the streets.

A motion for dismissal against him was put to a vote by deputies on Saturday but it failed, his People Power Party (PPP) having boycotted and invalidated the vote for lack of quorum.

The PPP then explained that it had ” got “ of Mr. Yoon, in exchange for this blockage, his ” promise “ that he would step down and leave governance to his party as well as to the Prime Minister.

“No matter how they try to justify it (…) it is a second act of rebellion and a second coup d’état, illegal and unconstitutional”thundered Park Chan-dae, leader of the Democratic Party in Parliament, largely in favor of the opposition, on Monday.

The South Korean Constitution stipulates that the president remains the head of government and the armed forces unless he is unable to assume his functions (if he falls into a coma for example), resigns or is impeached. In these cases, his authority is handed over to the Prime Minister until a new election is held.

To assert that Yoon Suk Yeol can remain in his position, while relinquishing his powers to the Prime Minister and the PPP, is “a flagrant violation of the Constitution, without any legal basis”blasted Park Chan-dae.

The situation is similar to a “silent coup”told AFP Kim Hae-won, professor of constitutional law at the Busan National Law Faculty.

Investigations

Mr. Yoon is the target of a police investigation for “rebellion”.

The authorities have already arrested the former Minister of Defense in office during the unrest from Tuesday to Wednesday, searched his office, placed several officials under a ban on leaving the territory and summoned on Monday the commander of the short-lived martial law to question him.

President Yoon himself could be summoned, police said Monday, adding that they “thinks” to prohibit him from leaving the territory, at the height of the investigations.

The police will carry out their investigations “in accordance with the law and rules, without any exception”assured Woo Jong-soo, head of investigations of the national police.

On Monday, the Defense Ministry nevertheless affirmed that Yoon Suk Yeol remained at the head of the country’s security apparatus, highlighting the complexity of the political situation.

“Legally, (control of the armed forces) is currently in the hands of the commander-in-chief (Yoon)”said Jeon Ha-kyou, spokesperson for the ministry.

New impeachment attempt

Unpopular leader Yoon, 63, apologized Saturday for declaring martial law, but did not resign.

He then justified his coup by his ‘despair as president’while Parliament torpedoed practically all of its initiatives.

“I have caused anxiety and inconvenience to the public. I offer my sincere apologies”he concluded before bowing deeply to the viewers.

Late Tuesday, by proclaiming martial law, he said he wanted to protect South Korea from “North Korean communist forces” et “eliminate elements hostile to the State”.

Soldiers and police were deployed to seal Parliament, without preventing 190 deputies from entering to vote on the lifting of this state of exception.

In front of the institution, thousands of people gathered to demand the resignation of Yoon Suk Yeol.

On Saturday evening, while the impeachment motion against him was put to the vote, some 150,000 demonstrators gathered in front of Parliament, according to the police. The organizers claimed an attendance of one million protesters.

The opposition has set its new attempt to impeach Mr. Yoon for Saturday. New large-scale gatherings around the National Assembly are planned.

The president’s approval rating has reached a low of 11 percent, according to a new Gallup poll released Monday by local media outlets.