South Korea’s conservatives attempt break from Yoon with martial law apology
Yoon Suk-yeol’s former ruling party has offered a belated mea culpa, but critics see the move as nothing more than a cynical election ploy
Yet analysts described the gesture as a tactical retreat by the ex-president’s former party, aimed at salvaging electoral fortunes rather than confronting its role in the fiasco.
Delivered on Wednesday by PPP chairman Jang Dong-hyuk, the apology laid bare the conservatives’ mounting struggle to reconcile their hardline base with disillusioned moderates ahead of local elections in June.
Jang acknowledged that Yoon’s declaration of martial law in December 2024 was “inappropriate and mistaken”, admitting that it sowed confusion among citizens. But his carefully worded statement stopped short of directly condemning Yoon or severing ties with the far-right forces that continue to exert oversized influence within the party.
The apology marks a dramatic turnaround for Jang, who last year stood shoulder to shoulder with pro-Yoon demonstrators accusing the judiciary of bias and demanding the president’s reinstatement.