Following Saturday's failed impeachment vote against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, opposition lawmakers accused his ruling party of staging a “second coup” by clinging to power.
Tens of thousands of people protested, calling for Yoon's resignation or impeachment after he shocked the country by declaring martial law last week.
But the vote to impeach Yoon failed and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) instead said its party leader and prime minister would lead the country until the president's “orderly exit.”
The move was criticized as unconstitutional by the opposition Democratic Party, which has pledged to hold impeachment votes against Yoon every Saturday.
In a public speech on Sunday, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said Yoon would no longer be involved in foreign and domestic affairs until his early resignation – adding that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would manage in the meantime government affairs.
“The president will not be involved in any state affairs, including diplomacy, before his departure,” party chief Han said.
However, Democratic Party leader Park Chan-dae described the proposed plan as “an illegal and unconstitutional second insurrection and a second coup.”
Democratic Party Rep. Kim Min-seok also criticized the plan, saying “no one gave” PPP leader Han the authority to make such decisions.
“The announcement by the prime minister and the ruling party that they would jointly exercise the powers of the president, which no one granted them, is clearly unconstitutional,” he said, according to a Korea Herald report.
On social media, many South Koreans expressed concerns, saying there was a lack of clarity over who runs the country.
The Ministry of National Defense confirmed Monday during a press briefing that the president retains command of the armed forces. This means that in the event of foreign policy incidents, including possible threats from North Korea, Yoon is still, in theory, able to make executive decisions.
“The president can take the lead every time he changes his mind,” political science professor Shin Yul of Myongji University told the Korea Herald.
“No one can stop him if Yoon insists.”
On Saturday, Yoon made his first appearance since the declaration of martial law, promising that he would not impose a new martial law order and apologizing for the “anxiety and inconvenience” caused by his declaration.
However, the opposition insisted it “will not give up” on Yoon's impeachment.
“We will definitely bring this country back to normal by Christmas and the end of the year and give it to you as a Christmas and year-end gift,” Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung told a crowd disappointed after Saturday's failed impeachment attempt. .
He again urged Yoon to resign on Monday, telling a news conference that Yoon's actions were “destroying” South Korea and its economy.
Additional reporting by Yuna Ku in Seoul
