South Korea’s prime minister apologizes for martial law amid political crisis

Thousands of people demonstrate again to demand the removal of the president

Dec. 11 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Prime Minister of South Korea, Han Deok Soo, apologized this Wednesday for the martial law declared a week ago by the president, Yoon Suk Yeol, a measure that was revoked just hours later by Parliament and that has unleashed a political crisis in the Asian country.

During an extraordinary session before the National Assembly, the head of Government apologized for “not having avoided the president’s statement” despite having opposed the measure from the first moment, as he assured the deputies.

“I made it clear from the first moment that I did not support the decision and I tried to dissuade him, but I was unsuccessful. I regret it, and this feeling of guilt haunts me,” he stated, as reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap.

However, he has assured that his intention is to “fulfill his duty until the end” and has accepted “the consequences that may arise” from what happened now that he is also being investigated for alleged insurrection along with other senior officials, including himself. president.

Han is not the first to apologize for what happened. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who left office shortly after what happened, also apologized on Wednesday of last week. Now, both Kim – who would have tried to take his own life after being detained -, as well as the South Korean president and several senior Army officials, are being investigated and will not be able to leave the country.

Thousands of people took to the streets again this Wednesday in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, to protest in front of the National Assembly and once again demand the dismissal of the country’s president, although the impeachment motion presented to Parliament was not approved during the vote held over the weekend.