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By Shannon McDonagh
News Reporter
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South Korea's opposition leader has openly questioned the mental state of President Yoon Suk Yeol, warning of potential extreme retaliations to Yoon's declaration of emergency martial law earlier this week.
Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, vowed Friday to seek Yoon's impeachment, describing the decision to impose martial law as incomprehensible and dangerous.
"A more dangerous part of the martial law case is the state of mind of the president who decided to do something that no one understands, rather than the fact that he did it," said Lee.
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"There is a high possibility that he could do totally incomprehensible things on security, defense, economy and foreign affairs issues."
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Allegations of Scandals Involving First Lady
President Yoon's decree, announced Tuesday night, was overturned by the opposition-controlled parliament within six hours and officially lifted before dawn on Wednesday.
Yoon justified the move by citing the need to eliminate "shameless North Korea followers and antistate forces."
He accused them of engaging in "antistate activities" and collaborating with "North Korean communists" to undermine the country, leading to what he termed a "legislative dictatorship."
The domestic and international consensus was that the declaration was unconstitutional. Critics suspect it was an attempt to distract from a number of scandals involving Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee.
Yoon recently vetoed a bill calling for an independent investigation into his wife's alleged stock manipulation, of which she was cleared, describing the scandal as a "political maneuver."
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Two-Thirds Majority Needed for Approval
The Democratic Party and smaller opposition groups have rallied for a parliamentary vote on an impeachment motion against Yoon, calling his actions an "illegal rebellion or coup."
To succeed, the motion requires a two-thirds majority in parliament, which would necessitate support from some members of Yoon's governing People Power Party (PPP).
Public sentiment appears to favor impeachment. Perceptions of authoritarianism akin to historic governments have eroded the population's trust in his commitment to democratic principles.
A survey published Thursday revealed that over 70 percent of South Koreans support removing Yoon from office, while another poll on Friday showed his approval rating at just 16 percent—the lowest since he assumed the presidency in May 2022.
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U-turns from South Korea's Ruling Party
Yoon's office responded to Lee's remarks, stating that the president is managing state affairs effectively and performing his duties as normal.
Despite this reassurance, Yoon has remained out of the public eye since rescinding his martial law declaration.
Lee warned that Yoon's diminishing authority leaves him incapable of governing effectively. His party, who sit on the liberal end of South Korea's political spectrum, are working to persuade conservative PPP members to back the impeachment effort.
In some instances, the tide is turning. On Thursday, his office announced the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun.
Details also emerged earlier today of an "arrest list" of politicians ordered by Yoon had martial law been successful. On it was his own People's Power Party chief, Han Dong-hoon, who has since U-turned on his opposition to a Yoon impeachment within a day.
"Considering the newly emerging facts, I believe that a swift suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol's duties is necessary to safeguard the Republic of Korea and its people," he said, warning there was a "significant risk" he could try to subvert civilian rule again.
He went as far as saying keeping Yoon——previously a close ally——in office "could put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger."
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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