South Korean President Apologizes While Lying Down: I'm Stung To Regret

JAKARTA South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday apologized for his attempts to impose a military emergency. Yoonn bowed during a televised speech just hours before the planned impeachment vote.

Yoon said he would not try to avoid legal and political responsibility for his decision, which he said was born from despair.

The speech was the first public appearance since Yoon lifted a military emergency order on Wednesday morning, just six hours after it was announced.

"I am very sorry and want to sincerely apologize to the people who were shocked," Yoon said.

"I leave it to my party to take steps to stabilize future political situations, including the issue of my term of office," he said.

South Korean leader Han Dong-hoon said after Yoon's speech, the president was no longer in a position to carry out public duties and his resignation was now unavoidable.

On Friday Han said Yoon was a danger to the country and needed to be ousted from power, increasing pressure on Yoon to step down even though members of the People's Forces Party (PPP) later reaffirmed formal rejection of his impeachment.

Members of parliament will vote against the Democratic Party's main opposition motion to impeach Yoon today.

Yoon shocked the country on Tuesday night when he gave an emergency force to the military to eradicate what he called anti-state forces' and address hindering political opponents.