South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has expressed regret over his brief attempt to impose martial law this week, vowing to accept any legal or political repercussions just hours before parliament is set to vote on his impeachment.

In a two-minute televised address, his first public statement since rescinding the martial law order on Wednesday, Yoon said he was "very sorry" for the decision, which he described as stemming from desperation, and assured the public that he would not attempt to impose martial law again.

"I am very sorry and would like to sincerely apologise to the people who were shocked," Yoon said, bowing. "I leave it up to my party to take steps to stabilise the political situation in the future, including the issue of my term in office."

Opposition's Criticism and Call for Resignation

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, dismissed Yoon's apology as "very disappointing" and argued that it had only fueled public anger and a sense of betrayal.

"The president's very existence is the biggest risk to South Korea right now," Lee said, insisting that there was "no other solution" than his immediate resignation or removal through impeachment.

PPP leader Han Dong-hun urged Yoon to resign, stating that he was no longer fit to hold office. Opposition lawmakers submitted an impeachment motion, though it remained uncertain whether they could gather the necessary two-thirds majority to pass it.

The Opposition controls 192 of the National Assembly's 300 seats, requiring at least eight votes from the PPP to succeed. On Wednesday, 18 PPP members voted to revoke the martial law, just hours after Yoon had declared it, as heavily armed troops surrounded the National Assembly in an effort to prevent the vote.

Military Deployment and Legal Consequences

Yoon's controversial actions have triggered a political crisis, raising concerns among key allies like Japan and the United States. Opposition MPs argue that Yoon's martial law declaration amounted to a self-coup, using rebellion as the grounds for the impeachment petition. Despite Han's call for his resignation, the PPP voted against impeachment during a parliamentary session.

On Friday, Han called for the immediate suspension of Yoon's powers, warning that he posed a serious threat to national security. Han also claimed that during the brief period of martial law, Yoon had ordered the arrest of senior lawmakers, including himself, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, and National Assembly speaker Woo Won Shik. Han alleged that Yoon instructed the country's defense counterintelligence commander to detain the politicians on charges of "anti-state activities."

In response, the defense ministry suspended several key officials, including Yeo In-hyung, the defense counterintelligence commander. Yoon's former defense minister, Kim Yong Hyun, who is suspected of advocating for the martial law declaration, is under investigation for charges of rebellion.

Furthermore, Kim Seon Ho, the acting defense minister following Kim Yong Hyun's resignation, testified before parliament that military units had been deployed to the National Assembly after Yoon's martial law declaration.