South Korea. President Jun Suk Jeol apologized for imposing martial law

President Jun Suk Jeol declared martial law on Tuesdayaccusing the opposition of sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the government's work. After a few hours, in the face of a parliamentary resolution rejecting this decision and immediate protests, the president declared the lifting of martial law.

In order to get to the National Assembly building and vote on the resolution rejecting the presidential decree, deputies had to break through a military and police cordon.

Jun's Saturday speech was his first public appearance since he lifted martial law.

Jun explained in a televised address that the decision to introduce martial law “came out of the desperation of the president, who is ultimately responsible for state affairs.” He admitted that this caused anxiety and inconvenience to citizens, for which he “is very sorry.” He also emphasized that he had no intention of declaring another martial law.

The president announced that he would not avoid legal or political responsibility for Tuesday's declaration and its consequences. Jun entrusted the “political stabilization plan”, including his term in office, to the People's Power Party from which he comes and his administration.

At the end of his speech, the president stood in front of the podium, bowed deeply, and then left.

President Jun's Saturday speech was criticized in a statement by representatives of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) – the largest trade union headquarters with 1.2 million employees. The organization stressed that “the civil war cannot be covered up with an apology” and therefore “(the president) should be impeached and arrested immediately.”

A vote on initiating impeachment proceedings against Jun is scheduled for Saturday afternoon local time. It is uncertain whether the motion submitted by the six opposition parties, which have a total of 192 seats, will receive the required two-thirds support in the 300-seat National Assembly.

People's Power Party leader Han Dong Hun said after Jun's speech that the president's early resignation was “inevitable” because he was no longer able to perform public duties. It is unclear whether this means support for the motion to impeach Jun. On Friday, Han declared that the party would block the impeachment bill.

In turn, the leader of the largest opposition force, the Democratic Party, Li Jae Myung, said that he would strive to end Jun's term early because, as he assessed, his presidency was “dangerous” for the nation.

Yonhap news agency reported earlier that the vote on the motion to impeach Jun would be preceded by another vote on the bill to establish a special office to investigate the allegations against President Jun's wife, Kim Kon Hi.