South Korean president apologizes for declaring martial law

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has apologized but refused to resign over his decision to declare martial law, as protesters gathered outside Parliament ahead of a crucial vote to impeach the president on December 7.

Yoon shocked the country and the international community on Tuesday night when he announced the declaration of martial law. It was the first time in more than four decades that martial law had been declared in the country, and after the president's announcement, troops and helicopters were deployed to Parliament.

But lawmakers managed to vote to repeal the decree, forcing Yoon to withdraw the decision on Wednesday morning.

"The declaration of a state of war came from my desperation as president," he said during a televised address, his first to the public since plunging the country into political chaos.

"I have caused anxiety and concern to the public. I sincerely apologize," he said.

The opposition and key members of his party have called on the president to resign and Parliament is expected to vote later on Saturday on his impeachment, although opposition leader Lee Jae-myung told AFP it was unclear whether the motion would pass.

Hundreds of protesters began gathering outside Parliament on Saturday, ahead of the start of the impeachment trial, and organizers said they hoped 200,000 people would gather to increase pressure on lawmakers.

Yoon did not offer to resign during his address, but said he trusts "the party to take measures to stabilize the political situation, including for my term as president."

Yoon's People's Power Party is divided on the issue, and a day earlier lawmakers from the party said they would follow party policy to block the impeachment motion, even though party leader Han Dong-hoon has said Yoon must step down or Seoul risks facing more political chaos.

"The normal exercise of the president's duties is impossible under the current circumstances and a resignation of the president is inevitable," Han Dong-hoon told reporters on Saturday.

The opposition bloc has 192 seats in the 300-seat Parliament and Yoon's party has 108 MPs.

Only eight MPs from the ruling party need to vote to impeach the president, in order to reach the two-thirds majority needed, and then Yoon would be suspended from his duties as president and the final decision on his impeachment would then be made by the Constitutional Court.

Police have begun investigating the president and others over the alleged uprising.

"I will not shy away from the issue of legal and political responsibility regarding the declaration of a state of war," Yoon said during his address.

Opposition leader Lee said Yoon's speech was "very disappointing," given the public's demand for the president to resign.

Some protesters have stayed overnight in front of Parliament, despite low temperatures, and some opposition MPs have also stayed inside Parliament overnight, fearing that Yoon may attempt some desperate measure in order to retain power.

When declaring martial law, Yoon claimed that such a decision would “eliminate anti-state elements that are hindering the freedoms and happiness of the people.”

Security forces surrounded the National Assembly, and helicopters landed on the roof of the building. Nearly 300 soldiers attempted to blockade the building. However, Parliament staff managed to prevent the soldiers from entering the building, and there were enough MPs inside the Parliament to vote against Yoon's decision.

Lawmakers from the ruling party and the opposition said soldiers had been ordered to arrest leading politicians, while special police units were reportedly ordered to remove MPs from Parliament./ REL