Democratic Party demands President Yoon’s arrest over martial law controversy

South Korea’s Democratic Party (DP) has called for the immediate arrest and investigation of President Yoon Suk Yeol following his short-lived and controversial martial law declaration.

The demand comes in the wake of a failed impeachment motion against Yoon, which collapsed on Saturday due to a lack of quorum after all but three ruling People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers boycotted the vote.

The DP has accused Yoon of betraying public trust and engaging in acts tantamount to treason. They have vowed to pursue a special counsel probe into his actions and those of officials involved in the martial law declaration.

The DP is also advocating to strip Yoon of his command over the military, warning that his continued authority threatens democratic governance.

In a scathing critique on Sunday, the DP also condemned PPP leader Han Dong-hoon and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo for attempting to consolidate power in the absence of an active president.

DP spokesperson Han Min-soo lambasted Han Dong-hoon for behaving “as though he is acting president,” labelling such actions as “an illegal seizure of state authority.”

The DP questioned the legal basis of Han Dong-hoon’s proposed weekly meetings with the prime minister to “stabilise governance,” suggesting these moves might exploit the crisis for political gain.

Han Min-soo further criticised Han Dong-hoon’s comments that President Yoon is “effectively excluded from state affairs,” calling them “deceptive wordplay without legal standing.”

The DP went on to accuse Han Dong-hoon of viewing the current turmoil as an opportunity for power consolidation.

The spokesperson noted internal dissent within the PPP, where members have reportedly voiced concerns that Yoon’s authority was delegated to the party as a whole, not specifically to Han Dong-hoon.

The DP also rejected Han Duck-soo’s recent statements about prioritising the “will of the people,” criticising him for failing to provide concrete plans to address the political crisis.

Instead, the DP argued, Han focused on pushing for the Yoon administration’s budget approval, neglecting to propose meaningful solutions.

Han Dong-hoon announced on Sunday plans to manage the unfolding crisis by facilitating an “orderly early departure” of President Yoon.

Speaking at PPP headquarters in Seoul, Han Dong-hoon stressed the importance of stabilising the political climate and restoring public confidence.

“Through an orderly early departure of the president, we will minimise the chaos for the Republic of Korea and its people, stabilise the political situation, and restore liberal democracy,” Han stated.

He also pledged to conduct a transparent investigation into the political turmoil and committed to working with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to ensure continuity in governance.

The DP dismissed the PPP’s proposal for the prime minister to assume leadership of state affairs, labelling it unconstitutional and beyond the authority of PPP officials. They insist that the focus must remain on holding Yoon accountable for his actions.

The controversy began last week when President Yoon abruptly declared martial law, a decision widely criticised for undermining South Korea’s democratic institutions and sparking political unrest.

Yoon rescinded the declaration six hours later after lawmakers forced their way into the National Assembly to block the martial law order with a parliamentary vote. However, the incident continues to dominate the political landscape.

Amid these developments, former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun was arrested on Sunday morning as part of an ongoing treason investigation linked to the martial law declaration.

Prosecutors detained Kim approximately six hours after he appeared for questioning at 1:30 a.m., during which he pledged to cooperate with the investigation.

The special investigation headquarters confirmed the arrest and seizure of Kim’s mobile phone. He was sent to a detention centre in eastern Seoul.

Kim is accused of recommending martial law to President Yoon during the height of a political deadlock with the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

Prosecutors cited the severity of Kim’s charges and concerns over potential evidence tampering as reasons for his detention.

Speculation intensified after Kim was found to have rejoined Telegram following the deletion of his previous account. Investigators are expected to restore and review his prior conversations on the platform.

Kim resigned from his position on Thursday, and President Yoon accepted his resignation. The prosecution is treating his case as a significant element of the broader treason probe, which could have far-reaching implications for the government.

The situation has left South Korea deeply polarised, with public sentiment increasingly shifting against Yoon.

PPP leaders are attempting to mitigate the crisis by seeking a resolution that limits further disruption to governance, while the opposition continues to press for stronger action.

Amid the political turmoil, foreign embassies in South Korea have issued warnings to their citizens, urging heightened vigilance. Safety advisories recommend avoiding areas where demonstrations are taking place and exercising caution near large gatherings, rallies, or protests, which could escalate into violence.