Why Did Yoon Break Five Days of Silence with a Statement Emphasizing 'Apology'?

On the 7th, the day of the vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, citizens are watching President Yoon's national address in the waiting room of Seoul Station. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

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President Yoon Suk-yeol issued a public apology on the 7th regarding the emergency martial law situation. After a long silence following the emergency martial law incident, President Yoon's sudden public address five days after the event occurred was due to the peak of his sense of crisis over the realization of impeachment.

In particular, it is interpreted that the decision was influenced by the necessity to calm the angry public sentiment and minimize defections from the ruling party ahead of the National Assembly's plenary session at 5 p.m. that day, where a vote on President Yoon's impeachment motion was scheduled. There is also analysis that this move could help consolidate conservative votes amid the imminent threat of impeachment.

A presidential office official told Asia Economy in a phone interview that "the need for the president to directly express his position was consistently raised not only within the ruling party but also among the presidential office aides," adding, "It was a situation where it was impossible not to do so before the National Assembly's impeachment vote."

It is known that President Yoon decided on the statement after accepting the ruling party's demand to express his position, including a public apology, before the impeachment vote. The day before, President Yoon met consecutively with Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, and Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader, gathering opinions including demands for an apology from the ruling party and reportedly responded, "I understand well. I will consider it."

With the opposition party strongly pushing for impeachment and concerns about defections within the ruling party amid internal strife, it is evaluated that President Yoon's determination to prevent the extreme situation of impeachment led to the public apology before the impeachment vote. Presidential aides, who had been exploring various recovery measures such as public statements, press conferences, and apologies after the lifting of martial law, reportedly continued to advise President Yoon that he could no longer delay expressing his position.

President Yoon, who had maintained the stance that the declaration of martial law was "the opposition party's fault" and that "the martial law declaration was made within the bounds of the constitution," changed his position and issued a public apology, which is interpreted as an urgent effort to prevent the worst-case scenario of impeachment.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a live nationwide address at 10 a.m. on the 7th, ahead of the impeachment vote related to the declaration of martial law. President Yoon apologized to the public for the martial law situation and stated that he would entrust his term and political stability measures to the party. (TV filming) Photo by Jo Yong-jun

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The statement that day emphasized a public apology. With a solemn expression, President Yoon said, "This declaration of martial law stemmed from the desperation of the president as the ultimate person responsible for state affairs," adding, "However, in the process, we caused anxiety and inconvenience to the people. I am deeply sorry and sincerely apologize to the citizens who were greatly shocked."

He then stepped forward to the podium, bowed his head, and said, "Once again, I bow my head and apologize for causing concern to the people."

He also focused on dispelling concerns raised by some about the possibility of a second martial law incident. President Yoon said, "There are talks that martial law will be enforced again, but I say clearly," adding, "There will never be a second martial law or anything like it."

Regarding the future direction of recovery, President Yoon did not directly mention the key issue of constitutional amendment for term reduction, which was a focal point of the statement. However, it is interpreted that he implicitly indicated the possibility of acceptance. President Yoon said, "I will not evade legal and political responsibility related to this martial law declaration," and "In the future, our party and government will take joint responsibility for state affairs."

After President Yoon's public apology, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, told reporters, "President Yoon's early resignation is inevitable," adding, "We will discuss and consider the best way forward for the Republic of Korea and its people." When asked about the possibility of a 'constitutional amendment for term reduction,' he replied, "The matter, including the term, has been entrusted to the party, and I said I would 'discuss it and that early resignation is inevitable.'"

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