Their joint statement was aimed at addressing mounting public and international concerns following the failed impeachment motion against President Yoon the previous day. Yoon imposed martial law late Tuesday and sent armed forces to storm the National Assembly. The decree was canceled six hours later, after the parliament voted against it.
In a televised address from the PPP’s central office in Yeouido, Seoul, Han Dong-hoon emphasized the need for President Yoon to step down to minimize disruptions to governance and restore stability to the country. “The majority of the public judges that President Yoon can no longer effectively fulfill his duties. Therefore, an orderly retreat is necessary to prevent further chaos and uphold South Korea’s constitutional values,” Han stated.
Han Dong-hoon pledged that the president would not engage in state affairs, including foreign policy, prior to his departure, adding, "We will ensure there are no concerns from the public or the international community regarding the president’s role in governance during this transition."
He also underscored the importance of a thorough and impartial investigation into the martial law declaration on December 3, saying, "There will be no sanctuaries in the investigation, and neither the government nor the party will defend anyone, including the president, involved in the incident."
The PPP leader acknowledged the significant diplomatic and economic impacts of the ongoing crisis and called for close coordination between the prime minister and the party to manage state affairs seamlessly until President Yoon steps down. "The prime minister will work closely with the party to ensure that governance and the livelihood of the people are not disrupted," Han Dong-hoon said.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo echoed this sentiment in a separate statement, stressing the urgency of maintaining governmental continuity. "What is most important right now is ensuring that there is no void in governance," Han said. "The government will dedicate itself entirely to resolving the current crisis in line with the will of the people and focusing solely on serving them."
The announcement comes a day after the impeachment motion against President Yoon was nullified due to a lack of participation, with the ruling PPP boycotting the vote.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) denounced their plan as unconstitutional and called for the immediate arrest and impeachment of President Yoon.
"The prime minister has no constitutional authority to lead state administration," Kim Min-seok, a member of the DP Supreme Council, told reporters. He called the proposal a "second insurrection," and argued that only suspending the president's duties would follow constitutional procedure.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, formerly affiliated with the DP, also slammed the ruling camp's proposal.
"Presidential authority cannot be exercised jointly by the prime minister and ruling party as no one has granted them such power," Woo said at a press conference. "Presidential power does not belong in the president's pocket, nor can its transfer be decided arbitrarily."
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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