South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Thursday his martial law decree was "an act of governance" and accused the opposition of paralyzing state affairs, drawing fresh criticism and adding new uncertainty to the upcoming impeachment vote this weekend.

In a televised address, Yoon said the opposition was the one that paralyzed the government and threatened national security. He said the opposition has been abusing impeachment provisions and thwarting him and other top officials since he took office because they refused to accept the result of the presidential election in 2022.

He said he used his presidential powers to declare martial law to protect the nation and normalize the functioning of the state.

Describing the opposition as "anti-national forces", Yoon said he would fight till the last moment.

"Whether it is impeachment or investigation, I will stand up to it," said Yoon, adding he will not avoid legal and political responsibility regarding the martial law decree.

Later on Thursday, South Korea's opposition parties submitted a second impeachment motion against Yoon over his martial law declaration, according to multiple media outlets.

The main liberal opposition Democratic Party, or DP, and five other minor parties submitted the motion after the first one was scrapped on Dec 7 as the ruling People Power Party, or PPP, lawmakers boycotted a vote.

The opposition bloc planned to report the motion to a plenary session of the National Assembly on Friday and put it up for a vote on Saturday afternoon.

Yoon's speech received mixed reactions. PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said the party's lawmakers should take part in the next impeachment vote to stop further confusion, according to Yonhap News Agency. He also ordered party members to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the expulsion of Yoon from the party.

However, PPP's newly elected floor leader Kweon Seong-dong, a key confidant of Yoon, said the party is still against the impeachment motion but there will be a meeting of lawmakers to discuss whether to change the stance.

DP said Yoon's speech is equivalent to "declaring war on the people and the National Assembly".

'Unacceptable' intention

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, who is aligned with the DP, said Yoon's purported intention to use the martial law declaration as a warning to the National Assembly is unacceptable.

"I suggest that the ruling and the opposition parties hold a meeting immediately," said Woo. "We need to clear up national instability as soon as possible."

Refuting Yoon's suspicions of election fraud, the National Election Commission said in a statement that the allegations are baseless.

During the martial law decree last week, about 300 troops were sent to several election offices, and the election watchdog said Yoon's address proved the troop deployment was "unconstitutional and unlawful".

The National Assembly passed bills on Thursday to investigate Yoon's insurrection charge and scandals involving first lady Kim Keon-hee.

South Korean law gives a president immunity from prosecution while in office, except for allegations of rebellion or treason. This means that Yoon can be questioned and detained by investigative agencies over his martial law decree, but many observers doubt that authorities will forcefully detain him because of the potential for clashes with his presidential security service.

The new impeachment vote at the National Assembly on Saturday requires a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament to pass.

If the motion is passed, the constitutional court will deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power will be suspended.

The opposition bloc originally held 192 of the 300 seats, but Cho Kuk, leader of Rebuilding Korea Party, lost his parliamentary seat on Thursday after he was sentenced to a two-year prison term by the Supreme Court.

Cho was convicted of charges including academic fraud involving his children. He also lost his right to run in presidential elections for five years, which means he cannot participate in the next presidential election if the court decides to impeach Yoon.

Cho's party said it plans to hand over the proportional representation seat, which can still be held by the party, as soon as possible to the next in line so the successor can participate in the impeachment vote in time.

In a survey released by pollster Realmeter on Thursday, 74.8 percent of the respondents said the president should be suspended immediately by resignation or impeachment and 16.2 percent of people said Yoon should resign in an orderly manner as proposed by the ruling party.

Xinhua and agencies contributed to this story.

kelly@chinadailyapac.com

BEIJING - China is deeply surprised and dissatisfied with China-related remarks made by the Republic of Korea (ROK) side, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday.

Mao made the comment during a regular press briefing in response to a query about the remarks made by President of the ROK Yoon Suk-yeol in a televised address.

"China has taken note of this," said Mao, adding that China does not comment on the domestic affairs of the ROK, but firmly opposes the ROK side's attempt to relate its domestic issues with China, which hypes up groundless accusations of the so-called Chinese spies, and smears normal economic and trade cooperation.

"This is not conducive to the healthy and stable development of China-ROK relations," said the spokesperson.

"The Chinese government has always required Chinese citizens overseas to abide by local laws and regulations," Mao said, adding that no conclusion has been reached regarding the case mentioned by the ROK side, and the relevant departments of China and the ROK have maintained communication about it.

China once again urges the ROK side to handle cases involving Chinese citizens fairly, inform China of the handling of the cases in a timely manner, and effectively protect the safety and legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese citizens involved, Mao said.

On China's green industry, Mao said that its development is the result of global market demand, technological innovation and full competition, and this sector has also made important contributions to addressing climate change and improving global environmental governance.

SEOUL -- South Korea's opposition parties on Thursday submitted a second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol over his martial law declaration, according to multiple media outlets.

The main liberal opposition Democratic Party and five other minor parties submitted the second motion to impeach Yoon after the first one was scrapped last Saturday as the ruling People Power Party lawmakers boycotted a vote.

The opposition bloc planned to report the motion to a plenary session of the National Assembly on Friday and put it up for a vote at 5:00 pm local time (0800 GMT) on Saturday.

Under the constitution, at least two-thirds of the 300 National Assembly lawmakers are required to vote in favor to pass an impeachment motion.

If the motion is passed, the constitutional court will deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power will be suspended.

Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

The embattled president said earlier in the day that his martial law imposition aimed to protect against the "legislative dictatorship" of the majority opposition.

SEOUL -- South Korea's parliament on Thursday passed bills to appoint independent counsels to investigate President Yoon Suk-yeol's insurrection charge over his martial law declaration and scandals involving the first lady, local media reported.

Of 283 National Assembly lawmakers attending the plenary session, 195 voted for the special prosecutor bill against Yoon and 86 dissented, with two abstentions.

Under the bill, the president is required to pick and appoint one prosecutor among those recommended.

If Yoon vetoes it, the bill should be put to a revote in which at least two-thirds of the 300-member assembly should vote for it to be passed.

Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3, which was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

The investigative agencies have probed rebellion and other charges against Yoon who became the country's first sitting president placed under an overseas travel ban.

Meanwhile, of 282 lawmakers participating in the vote Thursday on the special counsel bill against first lady Kim Keon-hee, 195 were in favor and 85 were against, with two abstentions.

Subject to the independent counsel's investigation were allegations of stock price manipulation and interference in candidate nominations for the 2022 by-elections and the 2024 parliamentary elections, as well as in public opinion manipulation during the 2022 presidential election.

The previous three bills against the first lady were vetoed by Yoon and scrapped in a revote.

SEOUL -- South Korea's parliament on Thursday passed impeachment motions against the justice minister and the police chief over their alleged roles in President Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law declaration, local media reported.

Among 295 National Assembly lawmakers attending the plenary session, 195 were in favor of and 100 were against the motion to impeach Justice Minister Park Sung-jae.

The motion to suspend the duty of Cho Ji-ho, the National Police Agency chief, was passed in a 202-88 vote with one abstained and four voided.

Their duties will be suspended until the constitutional court decides on whether to uphold the impeachment motion.

The opposition parties claimed that Park and Cho played roles in Yoon's martial law imposition by participating in a cabinet meeting to put the country under military rule.

Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3, which was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

The embattled president said in an address to the nation earlier in the day that his martial law declaration aimed to protect against the "legislative dictatorship" of the majority opposition.

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SEOUL -- South Korean National Archives and the Presidential Archives have begun to check the records related to emergency martial law, Yonhap news agency reported Thursday.

Due to concerns that documents related to the martial law declaration last week may be damaged, the archive agencies decided to conduct some on-site inspections.

SEOUL -- South Korea's ruling party leader Thursday called for supporting impeachment against President Yoon Suk-yeol as its party stance, terming it as the only solution to chaos caused by Yoon's martial law declaration.

The remarks by Han Dong-hoon, chief of Yoon's own People Power Party, came after the president delivered a televised address to the nation in which he justified his hugely controversial martial law decision.

Speaking to reporters, Han confirmed Yoon's unwillingness to resign early, and said the president should immediately be excluded from state administration, including the right to command the military.

He said those involved in the unconstitutional and illegal declaration of martial law, including Yoon, should be strongly punished.

Han called on his party's lawmakers to vote on Yoon's impeachment based on their own "conviction".

"We must stop further confusion. There is only one effective method now," he said. "In the next (impeachment motion) vote, our party's lawmakers should enter the assembly hall and take part in the vote based on their own conviction and conscience."

The People Power Party had initially refused to back impeachment, hoping Yoon would resign from office instead. But its leadership said attempts to persuade Yoon had made no progress.

The opposition parties submitted a motion to impeach Yoon last week, but it was scrapped last Saturday as People Power Party lawmakers boycotted it.

The opposition camp planned to submit an impeachment motion again later in the day and put it up for a vote Saturday.

S. Korean army chief of staff, previously named to lead martial law command, suspended from duties: Defense Ministry

SEOUL -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Thursday defended his move to impose a short-lived martial law and showed no will to step down in a televised address to the nation.

The president justified his declaration of the emergency martial law last week as "an act of governing" that should not be "subject to legal judgment."

Yoon said that he tried to protect the country's liberal democracy and the constitutional order against the "legislative dictatorship" of the majority opposition that committed legislative violence with the majority power.

Yoon also accused the opposition of framing insurrection charges and paralyzing state affairs with the abuse of impeachment, noting he would face impeachment or investigation "confidently."

Yoon declared the martial law on the night of Dec 3, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

South Korean police failed to raid the presidential office on Wednesday as the presidential security service refused to cooperate with their investigation into President Yoon Suk-yeol's brief imposition of martial law last week.

Instead, Yoon's office voluntarily submitted "very limited" documents and materials to the police, Yonhap News Agency reported.

A team of 18 investigators arrived at the presidential office compound before noon to search for materials related to the martial law decree, including records of a Cabinet meeting held shortly before Yoon announced the order on Dec 3. The presidential staff members denied the team entry, and the two sides held talks for hours before Yoon's office voluntarily gave some documents to effectively block the raid.

Investigators, however, successfully raided the offices of the National Police Agency and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, among others, on Wednesday. The raids followed the emergency arrests of heads of the two agencies, Yonhap reported.

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense, anti-corruption investigation agency and police have launched a joint team to probe Yoon's alleged insurrection through imposition of the martial law.

Law enforcement officials have left open the possibility of placing Yoon under emergency arrest without a warrant given the gravity of the charges, as insurrection is a crime that carries a penalty of up to death in the country.

Amid widening investigations and growing political uncertainty, South Korea's former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun made an unsuccessful attempt to take his own life at a detention facility in Seoul late on Tuesday, shortly before a court issued a warrant to arrest him.

The former defense minister took office in September, but was compelled to resign last week following the botched attempt to impose martial law in the country.

Kim, who was questioned for five hours by prosecutors on Wednesday, testified that Yoon conducted a legal review of last week's martial law decree and they co-wrote the final draft, with Yoon editing a part of the content, Yonhap reported.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party plans to introduce a new impeachment motion against Yoon in the National Assembly on Thursday, which is expected to be put to a vote on Saturday.

The previous impeachment vote failed as members of the ruling People Power Party, of which Yoon is a member, boycotted the session.

The Democratic Party and other small opposition parties together have 192 seats in the 300-member National Assembly.

At least eight votes from the ruling party are needed to reach the two-thirds majority required for impeachment. Five members of People Power Party have voiced their support for this week's vote.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will temporarily take over presidential responsibilities, if the second impeachment motion is passed in the National Assembly.

At a parliamentary plenary session on Wednesday, Han told lawmakers that although he had attended an emergency closed-door Cabinet meeting on Dec 3, shortly before Yoon declared martial law, he had opposed the move out of concerns for South Korea's economy and image.

Han added that he had no prior knowledge of the move before the Cabinet meeting and regretted his failure to prevent it.

As South Korea reels from the aftermath of the short-lived martial law, concerns are growing about a "diplomatic vacuum" in the country.

United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin canceled his plans to visit the East Asian country, calling it an inappropriate time, while Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's visit has been deferred, according to Reuters.

A trip by former Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga, which was scheduled for later this month, has also been canceled, while Japan News reported that a planned visit by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in January "has become almost impossible" to realize.

Mason Richey, a professor of international politics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, said that in the short term, most countries are going to adopt a wait-and-watch policy.

Richey added that Yoon is unlikely to resign, opting instead to take his chances that a presumed post-impeachment review by the Constitutional Court will go in his favor.

SEOUL -- South Korean police failed to raid the presidential office Wednesday after the presidential security service refused to cooperate with their investigation into President Yoon Suk-yeol's brief imposition of martial law last week, Yonhap news agency reported.

SEOUL -- South Korea's police, Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the defense ministry will jointly investigate President Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law declaration, multiple media outlets said Wednesday.

The National Police Agency's National Office of Investigation (NOI), the CIO and the defense ministry's investigation headquarters launched a joint investigation team to probe Yoon's declaration of an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3 that was repealed by the National Assembly hours later.

The joint investigation team was quoted as saying that the three agencies will cooperate by utilizing each strength, such as the NOI's investigation experience and capability, the CIO's legal expertise and right to seek arrest warrant, and the defense ministry's military expertise.

Prosecutors have run a separate investigation team to look into Yoon's treason and other charges.

SEOUL -- South Korean police have entered the headquarters of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for investigation, local media Newsis reported Wednesday.

SEOUL -- South Korean ex-defense minister Kim Yong-hyun attempted to take his own life while being held at a detention facility on charges of insurrection, and he was currently in stable condition, the Justice Ministry said Wednesday.

Kim was found trying to hang himself with a rope made from tying together innerwear inside a bathroom at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center in eastern Seoul at 11:52 pm local time Tuesday, shortly before a court issued an arrest warrant for him, the ministry said.

Following the unsuccessful attempt, Kim was being held in a protective cell and his health remained stable, according to Shin Yong-hae, head of the correctional center.

Kim, who had already been detained since Sunday, was formally arrested early Wednesday on charges of helping President Yoon Suk-yeol stage an insurrection during a six-hour imposition of martial law between Tuesday and Wednesday last week.

SEOUL -- South Korean lawmakers are scheduled to vote at 5 pm local time this Saturday on the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's motion to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol over his botched attempt to impose martial law, local media reported Wednesday.

Yoon escaped impeachment last Saturday due to a lack of quorum as most lawmakers from his ruling People Power Party boycotted the vote.

SEOUL -- South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) chief said Wednesday that the CIO will attempt to arrest President Yoon Suk-yeol with and without an arrest warrant if conditions are met, according to multiple media outlets.

Oh Dong-woon made the remark during a parliamentary hearing, saying the CIO will do everything it can.

When asked by a lawmaker whether the investigative agency could arrest Yoon without an arrest warrant, Oh said yes.

Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3, but it was repealed by the National Assembly hours later.

The country's police, prosecution and the CIO have been investigating rebellion charges against Yoon, cabinet members and military commanders.

SEOUL -- South Korean prosecutors Wednesday raided the headquarters of the Army Special Warfare Command as part of their probe into President Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law declaration last week.

SEOUL -- South Korean police raided the office of the embattled President Yoon Suk-yeol over his martial law declaration last week, multiple media outlets said Wednesday.

Those subject to the raid were the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police and the National Assembly Police Guards as well as the presidential office.

A group of investigators entered the presidential compound to seize documents on an emergency martial law declared by Yoon on the night of Dec. 3 that was rescinded by the National Assembly hours later.

President Yoon reportedly was not staying in the presidential office building.

Embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is facing bleak prospects after the parliament passed a bill on Tuesday mandating a permanent special counsel to probe treason charges over his failed bid to impose martial law.

The National Assembly approved the legislation 210-63 with 14 abstentions, Yonhap reported.

The opposition Democratic Party bloc holds 192 seats in the 300-strong parliament, while Yoon's ruling People Power Party has 108.The result indicated about 20 assenting votes from the PPP.

The bill's passage will mark the first time in South Korea's constitutional history that public prosecutors, police, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, and a special prosecutor launch simultaneous investigations into the same case.

Besides Yoon, the bill calls for investigations into several other officials involved in imposing martial law, including former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, former interior minister Lee Sang-min and army chief Park An-su, who was named martial law commander.

Yoon declared emergency martial law late on Dec 3 but it was reversed in the National Assembly in 155 minutes.

As the president cannot exercise his veto right on a bill about a permanent special counsel, the bill's passage is expected to have a prolonged influence on South Korea's political situation.

In addition, the National Assembly adopted a resolution calling for the swift arrest of eight key figures involved in the martial law incident, including Yoon.

The president and several top officials, including the Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency Cho Ji-ho, have been banned from leaving the country while under investigation.

Yoon avoided an opposition-led bid to impeach him on Saturday. However, the opposition parties have vowed to submit a new impeachment motion on Wednesday, with a vote set for Saturday.

Meanwhile, local media reported that the ruling PPP is discussing a road map that could see Yoon's "early exit" in February or March followed by fresh elections.

Democratic Party floor spokeswoman Kang Yu-jung dismissed the PPP plan, saying that the immediate impeachment of Yoon is the only answer.

"Who gives the PPP the power to settle the political situation?" Kang said.

"The PPP, which refused to vote for the impeachment of Yoon, is the one that caused political turmoil.

"What the people want is immediate suspension of Yoon's duty either by resignation or impeachment."

Apologizing to the public, Culture Minister Yu In-chon called for restraint in the opposition party's continued submission of impeachment motions against high-ranking officials, as it could pose a great danger to the public if all ministers responsible for security become vacant.

"I sincerely urge the majority party to demonstrate wisdom and restraint, ensuring that legal and political procedures proceed in alignment with the rule of law so that the government can focus on stable governance," said Yu.

Stability urged

Fang Kun, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Chinese embassy in South Korea, said China hopes to see continued stability in South Korea's economy and society as the two countries are important partners and close neighbors.

In a meeting with South Korean Deputy Finance Minister Choi Ji-young in Seoul on Tuesday, Fang also emphasized the need to continue bilateral cooperation through exchanges in various fields, such as the economy and tourism.

Choi said the government will proactively address financial and foreign exchange market volatility and prevent foreign companies from shirking investment and economic activities.

Uncertainties surrounding South Korea's economy have increased following Yoon's martial law declaration, with analysts worrying that the prolonged political crisis may even affect the country's credit rating.

S. Korean parliament speaker invokes authority to conduct probe into president's martial law decree