After his failed coup at the start of the week which plunged his country into political chaos, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was pushed out on Sunday, December 8, by his own party despite the failure – the day before – of a motion for impeachment against him.
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In a statement, the People’s Power Party (PPP) said it had “ got » from the South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol the promise that he would step down. “ Even before that, he will not interfere in state affairs, nor in foreign affairs », Certified Han Dong-hoon, the leader of this party, adding that the president had agreed to entrust management to his party. Furthermore, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who has dissociated himself from his president, assures that the government “ will show humility » and will seek to “ cooperate » with the opposition in Parliament.
Dismiss “ whatever the cost »
The day before, however, the PPP had defeated an impeachment motion against Mr. Yoon by boycotting the vote in Parliament, which was invalidated for lack of quorum. “ I will remove Yoon Suk Yeol at all costs, who has become the greatest danger to the South Korea », Promised opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, after this failure. On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, Yoon Suk Yeol created a surprise by proclaiming martial law and deploying the army and police to Parliament in order to muzzle him. But he had to repeal this measure six hours later under pressure from Parliament and the streets.
Arrest of the Minister of Defense
Identified as one of the main architects of this failed coup, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was arrested on the morning of Sunday, December 8, according to media reports. According to the Yonhap agency, he presented himself to the authorities at 1:30 a.m. local time (4:30 p.m. UT Saturday) and his arrest was decided after six hours of interrogation. Mr. Kim had already resigned after the president’s backpedaling. Searches are being carried out at his office and in his official residence, according to several local media. The former minister was also banned from leaving the country. Yoon Suk Yeol is, for his part, the target of a police investigation for “ rebellion “.
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