Yoon refuses to step down

Dec 13, 2024, 11:01 am

		0
President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a public address at the presidential office in Seoul on Dec. 12, 2024./ Provided by Presidential Office

AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Thursday defended his martial law declaration as an act of governance, while vowing to fight until the last moment against whether it is impeachment or a martial law probe.

Yoon asserted that his declaration of martial law was both inevitable and legitimate decision made by the head of state, citing the abuse of authority by opposition parties and the inspection of the National Election Commission’s voting system, and virtually rejected the “orderly early resignation” demanded by the ruling party and others.

In the 29-minute national address, which was prerecorded earlier in the morning, Yoon said the declaration of martial law was based on a “highly political judgment by the president” to protect the nation and normalize the government.

“The opposition party is now performing a sword dance of chaos, claiming that the declaration of emergency martial law constitutes to an act of rebellion,” Yoon said. “Who are the forces currently paralyzing state affairs and undermining the Constitution in the country?”

Yoon denounced the opposition parties for wielding its legislative power to block law changes that would allow the punishment of spying activities by foreign nationals, and unilaterally moving to cut budget items he said were essential for the economic growth of the country, calling them “anti-state forces.” Yoon said the main opposition Democratic Party is trying to use its legislative muscle to impeach top officials, adding, “I came to think of invoking an emergency martial law.”

Yoon said the inspection of the NEC system was one of the main factors that led him to declare martial law.

“We only checked some of the equipment of the NEC’s system, but the situation was serious,” Yoon said. “When the NIS staff tried to hack, it was possible to manipulate data as much as possible and there was virtually no firewall,” he added.

“Elections are at the heart of democracy, but the NEC’s capability of managing elections is questionable. How can the people trust the election results when its cybersecurity is so vulnerable to cyberattacks and hacking? That is why I ordered the defense minister to go after the NEC and check the election system,” Yoon said.

Regarding the deployment of troops in the National Assembly, Yoon said he only dispatched a small number of troops to the National Assembly as a “symbolic” gesture and for maintenance of order. “It is evident that the intention wasn’t to disband the parliament or paralyze its functions,” he said.

The president also said that the opposition parties are rushing to impeach him and pushing for an early presidential election as the conviction of the main opposition party’s leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung looms. “They are trying to seize power by destroying the system and covering up their crimes. Isn’t this a clear violation of the Constitution?” he said.

Thursday’s speech came five days after Yoon’s brief national address on December 7, where he apologized to the public over the anxiety and confusion.

#martial law #Yoon Suk-yeol #address