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South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol apologises for martial law: his mandate in the balance

President admits mistake: while the opposition calls for resignation or impeachment, Yoon Suk Yeol is in the hands of his party

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has publicly apologised for declaring martial law last Tuesday, a measure that was later withdrawn within hours. During his speech, Yoon expressed regret for the impact of his decision on the population, assuring that such measures will not be repeated in the future.

‘I am sincerely sorry and apologise to the people who must have been surprised,’ said Yoon. ‘I can clearly assure them that there will not be another declaration of martial law,’ he said. The president also added that he takes ‘full political and legal responsibility’ for what happened, leaving the handling of the situation to his party. He reiterated that his mandate and the country’s stability now depend on the decisions of the party and the government.

His apology comes shortly before the parliamentary vote on impeachment, an increasingly real possibility according to South Korean political analysts. The opposition, led by Lee Jae-myung, harshly criticised the president, calling his speech ‘very disappointing’ and unable to meet the people’s expectations.

For Lee, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, ‘the biggest risk for South Korea right now is the very existence of the president’. The opposition leader called for an immediate change at the top of the country, arguing that the end of the Yoon administration is inevitable through his resignation or an impeachment procedure.

The episode underlines the growing political tensions in South Korea, with a government facing difficulties in maintaining internal stability and an opposition ready to exploit every misstep to strengthen its position.

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