25 lawmakers from main opposition party apologize to nation over martial law bid

A group of lawmakers of the People Power Party bow their heads in apology at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday, marking the first anniversary of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration. Yonhap

A group of main opposition party lawmakers issued a public apology to the nation Wednesday on the first anniversary of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law attempt, vowing to cut off their ties with Yoon.

Twenty-five People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers, mostly first-term and second-term lawmakers, made the joint apology, calling the Dec. 3 martial law imposition an "unconstitutional and undemocratic act" that crushed the liberal democracy Koreans had built with "their blood and sweat."

"We deeply apologize to the public, as members of the then ruling party, for failing to stop the martial law in advance and causing great pain and confusion," they said, bowing their heads in apology.

They also pledged to completely sever political ties with Yoon and all others that led the martial law crisis, vowing to rebuild the party through drastic change and innovation.

Among the lawmakers were four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo and several lawmakers aligned with former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon.

Separately, PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk posted a message on Facebook, saying he feels "deep responsibility" as the party leader for the martial law crisis and the subsequent impeachment of Yoon that resulted in a "series of political tragedies" and caused deep disappointment and confusion among the public.

PPP floor leader Song Eon-seog also held a press conference at the National Assembly and apologized for Yoon's martial law declaration.

"I stand here today on behalf of all 107 of our party lawmakers who either took part or were unable to take part in last year's parliamentary vote to lift martial law to reflect on the past year and to move toward the future," Song said. "All lawmakers of the PPP feel a deep sense of responsibility for failing to prevent the imposition of martial law that caused great shock to the public."

On Dec. 3 last year, Yoon declared emergency martial law in an unannounced televised address to the nation.

Only 18 of the PPP's 108 lawmakers took part in the parliamentary vote to lift Yoon's decree, which passed unanimously early the next morning with 190 lawmakers of the 300-member Assembly present, amid allegations that then PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho had deliberately and repeatedly changed the venue of an emergency party meeting at the request of Yoon.