S.Korean opposition warns acting president to sign probe bill against Yoon or face consequences

By Anadolu staff

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Sunday warned acting President Han Duck-soo to immediately sign the special counsel bills against President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee, otherwise face consequences, according to local media.

Speaking to reporters in parliament, DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said that the acting president should sign the bills until Tuesday and allow probe against Yoon over his imposition of a short-lived martial law, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"If acting President Han does not promulgate the special counsel bills by Tuesday, (we) will immediately hold him responsible," he said.

He apparently warned that DP would push for his impeachment as the main opposition party enjoys a 170-member majority in the 300-member parliament, however for an impeachment they will need the support of 200 lawmakers.

On Dec. 14, President Yoon was suspended from office after the National Assembly passed the motion, suspending him from duties over his short-lived declaration of martial law on the night of Dec. 3.

Earlier, the National Assembly passed two bills of special counsel investigating Yoon and his wife.

On Thursday, the acting president also vetoed six bills passed by the opposition in the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party said Sunday that it has drafted a motion for Han's impeachment, accusing him of "silently agreeing" with Yoon's martial law declaration, according to the agency.

On Saturday, two protest rallies were held in the capital Seoul - a civic group with 300,000 attendees demanded Yoon be arrested while the other rally urged Yoon's return to power.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid