S. Korea's Yoon vows to fight to the end, defying threat of impeachment

President may be eyeing court battle as his party shifts closer to voting to impeach him

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SEOUL - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Dec 12 that he would "fight to the end" as his own political party shifted closer to voting with the opposition to impeach him over his short-lived martial law order that threw the country into turmoil.

In a lengthy televised address, he alleged that North Korea had hacked into the South's election commission, casting doubt on his party's landslide defeat in April.

Mr Yoon, whose country is Asia's fourth-largest economy, hopes his political allies will rally to support him, but it appeared even less likely after his address.

The leader of his ruling People Power Party (PPP) said the time had come for Mr Yoon to resign or be impeached by Parliament.

Later on Dec 12, six opposition parties led by the Democratic Party submitted a Bill for Mr Yoon's impeachment to Parliament. A vote is expected on Dec 14, nearly two weeks after the first one failed because most of the PPP members boycotted it.

At least seven members of the party are expected to support a new impeachment motion. At least eight PPP votes are needed for the two-thirds majority required to impeach Mr Yoon.