“Yesterday, I said I would try to prevent the impeachment from passing, but given the recent revelations, we believe it is necessary to suspend President Yoon Suk-yeol's office as soon as possible to protect the Republic of Korea,” said Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party.

Han made the remarks at an emergency meeting of the National Assembly's supreme committee.

“President Yoon has not even taken measures against the military personnel who illegally participated in the incident. If President Yoon continues to serve as the president of South Korea, there is a great risk that extreme actions such as the emergency martial law will be repeated, putting the country and its people at great risk,” Han said.

Han's call for an early suspension of President Yoon’s executive power has created a critical variable in whether or not the bill to impeach Yoon will pass. The PPP had previously confirmed its “no impeachment” stance. The bill to impeach Yoon, which was introduced by the six opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, was reported to the plenary session at dawn the previous day and will be voted on in the afternoon of December 7. To pass the impeachment bill, more than 200 of the 300 lawmakers in the National Assembly must vote in favor of the bill, which would require eight votes of approval from the PPP.