South Korea President Yoon Avoids Resignation Amid Martial Law Fallout and Impeachment Vote

SEOUL, Dec 7 — South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol stopped short of resigning on Saturday despite facing mounting pressure following his controversial martial law declaration, which sparked mass protests and an impending impeachment vote.

On Tuesday, Yoon stunned the nation by declaring martial law for the first time since the 1980s, deploying troops and helicopters to parliament. The move was swiftly blocked by lawmakers, forcing Yoon to rescind the order early Wednesday. In a televised address, he apologized for causing public distress but did not offer to step down, instead leaving his political future in the hands of his party.

The opposition, along with some members of Yoon’s own party, have called for his resignation, with a parliamentary vote set for later Saturday on his impeachment. Police are bracing for large anti-Yoon protests, with organizers hoping for up to 200,000 participants.

Yoon’s approval rating has plunged to a historic low of 13%, and there are growing calls for him to face legal consequences for his actions. While his People Power Party (PPP) has vowed to block the impeachment, tensions within the party are high, with some lawmakers urging Yoon to step down to avoid further chaos.

This crisis has raised concerns about South Korea’s democratic stability and has attracted international attention, with the US expressing hope that the country’s democratic processes will prevail.