Seoul, South Korea   — The head of South Korea’s ruling party has announced support for suspending the duties of President Yoon Suk Yeol – a stunning, last-minute move to abandon his fellow conservative leader that analysts say greatly increases the chances of Yoon’s impeachment over his failed attempt at martial law.

At a party meeting on Friday, People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon called for the “swift suspension” of Yoon’s duties, citing “newly revealed facts” that suggest Yoon had attempted to use intelligence agencies to arrest prominent lawmakers, accusing them of being “anti-state forces.”

“President Yoon has not acknowledged that the illegal martial law was a mistake. If President Yoon continues to carry out his duties, there is a significant risk of a recurrence of such extreme actions … which could pose a great threat to the Republic of Korea and its people,” Han said.

Yoon, frustrated for months by what he saw as opposition attempts to obstruct his governance, declared martial law late Tuesday, claiming it was necessary to “crush anti-state forces” and “protect constitutional order.”

Within hours, South Korean lawmakers overturned the decree, after fighting their way through police and military personnel who had been sent to the parliament building.

Opposition lawmakers, who hold a majority in the National Assembly, plan to vote on Yoon’s impeachment late Saturday. To succeed, they will need eight defections from the conservative PPP.

If Yoon is impeached, he would be immediately suspended while the Constitutional Court deliberates on whether to remove him from office, a process that could take weeks or even months.
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