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People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon. (Kim Gyoung-ho/Hankyoreh)

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party, has come out in favor of impeaching South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.

In a press conference at the National Assembly on Thursday, he said, “Currently, impeachment is the only way to suspend the president from office.”

“The president must immediately be removed from state management, including command over the armed forces,” he stressed.

“At the next [impeachment] vote, our party’s lawmakers will need to be present at the [National Assembly] and participate in the vote according to their convictions and conscience,” he added.

Han also said that Yoon “confirmed that he has no intention of agreeing to an early resignation,” adding that this was “a violation of his promise to entrust the party with the matter of his term.”

“Since the president’s intent to step down early was not shown, the immediate suspension of his duties is necessary,” he said.

Previously, the ruling party’s “task force for political stability” had drawn up plans for the president to resign in February, to be followed by a snap election in March, or for Yoon to step down in March and hold the next presidential election in May. But the presidential office has established that it prefers enduring impeachment proceedings to having Yoon step down. 

“To the respected people of Korea, I offer my deep apologies as the leader of the ruling party,” Han said.

 “Our party was unable to prevent this unconstitutional and illegal martial law in the first place. Though we searched for ways to minimize turmoil in government in the aftermath, during that process the public felt that we weren’t doing enough,” Han said. “I am sorry.”

By Shin Min-jung, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]