South Korea’s opposition leader called on the Constitutional Court on Sunday to expedite its decision on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, arguing that swift action was necessary to alleviate public distress after Yoon’s controversial martial law declaration.
Parliament voted on Saturday to impeach Yoon, accusing him of attempting to overthrow civilian rule. The move has triggered one of the most severe political crises in the country in recent years.
While the court deliberates, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has assumed the role of acting president.
The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to decide Yoon’s fate, but opposition leader Lee Jae-myung urged for a quicker resolution.
“This is the only way to minimise national turmoil and alleviate the suffering of the people,” Lee stated on Sunday. “To hold those responsible for this absurd situation accountable and to prevent its recurrence, it is essential to uncover the truth and demand accountability.”
Meanwhile, investigations into the martial law decree and its execution continue. Prosecutors announced on Sunday that they are seeking an arrest warrant for Kwak Jong-keun, head of the Army Special Warfare Command, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
Kwak is accused of deploying special forces to parliament during the attempted martial law, leading to a standoff between soldiers and parliamentary staff.
In addition, Yeo In-hyung, the chief of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, was arrested on Saturday on charges of insurrection and related offenses.
Despite the upheaval, the South Korean government has sought to maintain a semblance of normalcy.
Acting President Han Duck-soo held discussions with U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday, with Biden reaffirming the strength of the alliance between the two nations.
According to a White House statement, Biden expressed confidence in South Korea’s democratic institutions, stating the alliance would “remain the linchpin for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region during Acting President Han’s tenure.”
“President Biden expressed his appreciation for the resiliency of democracy and the rule of law in the Republic of Korea,” the statement added.
Han has also directed the military to heighten its vigilance against North Korea, a country that remains technically at war with the South. Pyongyang has yet to comment on Yoon’s impeachment.
Mass protests have erupted across Seoul since Yoon declared martial law on December 3, with both his supporters and opponents taking to the streets. Demonstrators on both sides pledged to continue their campaigns as the Constitutional Court deliberates.
“I will certainly protest at the court to demand it reject the impeachment,” said Yoon supporter Cho Hee-sun during a Saturday rally ahead of the parliamentary vote.
Police in Seoul estimated that over 200,000 protesters had gathered outside parliament to demand Yoon’s removal.
