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South Korean president says ready to face impeachment procedure

Yoon Suk Yeol defended his botched martial law decree as a measure to "protect the nation and normalize state affairs" against the opposition that paralyzed the government

SEOUL, December 12. /TASS/. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said in a televised address to the nation that he is ready to face an impeachment procedure or an investigation, the Yonhap news agency quoted him as saying.

"Whether I am impeached or investigated, I will fairly confront it," he said.

Prior to the December 7 impeachment vote in the parliament, Yoon Suk Yeol said he left the matter of impeachment in the hands of the ruling party. Its leadership has spoken in favor of the president’s "controlled early resignation."

The president defended his botched martial law decree as a measure to "protect the nation and normalize state affairs" against the opposition that paralyzed the government. He described his actions as a "highly calibrated political judgment."

Another impeachment vote is scheduled for December 14. The leader of South Korea’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) Han Dong-hoon called upon fellow party members to vote on the subject "based on their own conviction and conscience."

South Korean legislation allows criminal charges to be brought against the president if he is accused of mutiny and high treason. Several law enforcement agencies are conducting the investigation, and the president is banned from leaving the country. On Wednesday, police attempted to search his administration.

On the evening of December 3, Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law to combat "pro-North Korean elements" and the paralysis of the executive branch caused by the actions of the parliamentary opposition. Martial law was lifted about six hours later. The opposition initiated impeachment proceedings in the National Assembly on December 4, saying that the president had violated the constitution because there was no basis for martial law.

On December 7, the South Korean parliament voted to impeach the president. The impeachment was not announced because the ruling party boycotted the vote. Before the vote, Yoon Suk Yeol apologized to his fellow citizens and said that he had entrusted state affairs, including the issue of his term, to the ruling party and the government.

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