The head of South Korea’s ruling party, Han Dong-hoon, has called for the suspension of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s powers, citing “credible evidence” that the president intended to arrest political leaders after declaring martial law. Han initially opposed efforts to impeach Yoon but changed his stance due to new information revealing the president’s actions. Yoon declared martial law, citing threats from “anti-state forces” and North Korean sympathizers, but the National Assembly swiftly overturned the order in a unanimous vote. Yoon is now facing impeachment and investigation for treason, alongside other officials. Han’s call for suspending Yoon’s powers marks a shift in the ruling party’s response to the crisis, as they had previously indicated opposition to impeachment. The opposition Democratic Party has called for a vote on impeachment, needing support from ruling party members to reach a two-thirds threshold in the National Assembly. If successful, the Constitutional Court would rule on confirming Yoon’s removal from office. The situation reflects South Korea’s history of impeached or jailed presidents, including former president Park Geun-hye, who was later sentenced to prison for corruption. Han’s change of stance and the growing momentum for impeachment highlight the divisions and challenges facing South Korea’s political landscape.
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