South Korean President Apologises For Martial Law Debacle Ahead Of Impeachment Motion

South Korean President Yoon apologized for imposing martial law and promised not to repeat the action ahead of a parliamentary vote to impeach him.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol apologised for the martial law debacle ahead of impeachment motion.

Source : YouTube/Yoon Suk Yeol

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol apologised on Saturday for public anxiety caused by his short-lived imposition of martial law earlier this week. His apology came just hours ahead of a parliamentary vote to impeach him. 

In a brief televised address on Saturday morning, Yoon said he won't shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promised not to make another attempt to impose martial law, reported AP. 

He also said he would leave it to his conservative political party to chart a course through the country's political turmoil, "including matters related to my term in office." 

Lawmakers in South Korea are set to vote later Saturday on impeaching Yoon over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law in the country amid growing nationwide protests for his removal. 

While it was not immediately clear whether the motion submitted by opposition lawmakers would get the two-thirds majority it appeared more likely after chief of Yoon's party called for suspending his constitutional powers. 

Han Doong-hoon, the leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) warned on Friday that citizens of the country will be in "great danger" if Yoon remained in power. 

India Closely Monitoring Situation: MEA 

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that India is closely monitoring the situation in South Korea. 

"South Korea and India have a very important partnership, we have a strong economic and political partnership. We are obviously monitoring the developments," Jaiswal said during a press briefing on Friday. 

We have very strong investment and trade linkages, defence cooperation, and people-to-people ties with South Korea. We also have a large number of Indian nationals who live there, he noted. 

"All these developments we continue to maintain a close watch so that if there is any eventuality these may have a bearing on the safety of our Indian nationals as also bearing on our interests. We maintain a close watch and we hope the situation in the country will stabilise soon," he added.