South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed to "fight to the end" as his political future hangs in the balance following calls for his impeachment.
This comes after his brief declaration of martial law triggered widespread political unrest.
In a televised address, Yoon alleged North Korea had hacked the National Election Commission (NEC), casting doubt on the integrity of South Korea’s April election, which saw his party suffer a landslide defeat. He claimed opposition forces exploited the situation to unseat him but provided no concrete evidence of the alleged cyberattack.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) leader publicly called for Yoon to resign or face impeachment. Meanwhile, six opposition parties led by the Democratic Party submitted a new impeachment motion, with a parliamentary vote expected on Saturday.
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At least eight votes from Yoon’s party are required to secure the two-thirds majority to pass the motion.
If impeached, the case will go to South Korea's Constitutional Court, which has six months to decide whether Yoon will remain in office. Yoon is also under investigation for alleged insurrection linked to his December 3 martial law declaration, which he rescinded hours later amidst mounting backlash.
The U.S. military, which has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea, reassured its commitment to defending the nation amid the political turmoil.
The NEC denied claims of election irregularities and criticized Yoon for undermining the very system that elected him. Yoon defended his actions, claiming they were necessary to expose opposition plots while dismissing allegations of misusing military power.
