Leader of South Korea's Ruling Party Cancels Press Briefing Amid Resignation Demands
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Seoul, Dec 15 (NationPress) The head of South Korea's ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Sunday called off a press briefing regarding his future within the party, officials indicated, as demands for his resignation intensified following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
PPP leader Han Dong-hoon unexpectedly called off the press briefing that was anticipated to reveal his resignation.
Initially, Han had pledged to maintain his responsibilities in light of the calls for his resignation after the National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon on Saturday.
He has since been under increasing pressure to resign after all five elected members of the PPP's Supreme Council expressed their intent to step down, according to Yonhap news agency.
On Thursday, Han voiced his support for Yoon's impeachment, diverging from his earlier calls for Yoon's 'orderly' resignation.
On Saturday, the National Assembly passed the impeachment against President Yoon Suk Yeol due to his mishandled declaration of martial law, which has temporarily suspended him from his duties until the Constitutional Court reviews whether to reinstate him or remove him from office, with citizens celebrating his impeachment.
The impeachment motion against Yoon was approved with a vote of 204-85, including three abstentions and eight invalid votes, after all 300 Assembly members participated.
The martial law declaration, which was retracted within six hours after the Assembly voted against it, has led to investigations by the police, the prosecution, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials to determine if Yoon incited an insurrection. He is currently prohibited from leaving the country.
Yoon was officially suspended from his duties at 7:24 p.m., right after the impeachment resolution was delivered to his office and about two and a half hours post the passage of the impeachment motion.
Immediately after Yoon's suspension, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo began his role as acting President and convened a Cabinet meeting at the government complex in Seoul.
The impeachment trial may extend up to 180 days. If upheld, Yoon would become the second President to be ousted, following former President Park Geun-hye in 2017, leading to a snap Presidential election within 60 days.
