President South Korea said on Thursday that declared martial law last week to defend the constitutional order while denying accusations of a coup.
South Korea. The president explains why he introduced martial law
Jun Suk Jeol announced in a televised speech that he had used his presidential powers to declare martial law “to protect the nation and normalize state affairs” against the opposition, which had become “a monster destroying the constitutional order of liberal democracy.”
– The president's exercise of the right to declare extraordinary martial law is an act of governance that is not subject to judicial reviewas well as exercising the right to pardon and exercising diplomatic powers, Jun said, arguing that his decision cannot be interpreted as an act of a coup.
Jun is the first serving president of South Korea banned from leaving the country. This measure was applied after he was placed under investigation in connection with allegations including: coup and abuse of power. On the evening of December 3, Jun announced martial law, which he lifted six hours later pressure from the National Assembly.
– Whether I am indicted or investigated, I will not shirk from (my) legal and political responsibility for declaring martial law, he said, adding that he would “fight until the last moment.”
South Korea. Second impeachment motion
The main opposition group, i.e Democratic Party (PD) immediately recognized Jun's speech as “an expression of extreme hypocrisy” and “declaring war on the nation.”
PD announced the show second impeachment motion Jun, which would be put to the vote on December 14. First attempt to impeach the head of state indicted was lost last Saturday due to a boycott by deputies of the People's Power Party (PWL), from which Jun comes.
For the motion of the opposition camp, which has 192 seats, to be adopted, it requires the support of at least eight PWL deputies. Agencies and local media point out that in recent days support for Jun's impeachment has been growing in the PWL ranks, and the head of this group, Han Dong Hun, appealed to deputies to voting “according to your beliefs”.