South Korea's ruling party supports impeachment of president

South Korea's ruling People's Power Party (PPP) has expressed support for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol over his failed decision to declare martial law, which sparked a political crisis and widespread public outrage in the country, CNN reported.

The announcement came just before President Yoon delivered a speech on December 12 in which he justified his controversial decision to impose martial law and rejected growing calls for his resignation.

The People Power Party (PPP) initially refused to support impeachment, hoping that President Yoon would resign. But the PPP leadership said all efforts to persuade Mr. Yoon had made no progress.

“We tried to find a better way than impeachment, but that other way is not valid,” said PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, adding that suspending the president’s duties through impeachment was the only way to protect democracy and the republic.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party is preparing a new impeachment motion against President Yoon, with a vote expected as early as December 14.

Last weekend, President Yoon survived an impeachment vote, after members of the PPP left parliament and did not support the vote.

The PPP's reversal significantly increases pressure on Mr. Yoon and the likelihood that a further impeachment effort will succeed.

PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said party lawmakers were free to vote according to their “beliefs and consciences” in the next vote. “I believe our party members will vote for the country and the people,” he said.

The PPP announcement is the latest twist in a political scandal that has shocked South Korea over the past week.