South Korea's opposition leader questions President Yoon's state of mind after martial law chaos

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s opposition leader questioned the state of mind of President Yoon Suk Yeol and vowed to make all-out efforts to get him impeached soon, saying Friday that Yoon’s controversial martial law imposition this week showed he could make other extreme moves on vital issues.

“A more dangerous part of the martial law case is the state of mind of the president who decided to do something that no one understands, rather than the fact that he did it,” Lee Jae-myung, leader of the liberal opposition Democratic Party, told The Associated Press in an interview.

“There is a high possibility that he could do totally incomprehensible things on security, defense, economy and foreign affairs issues.”

Yoon’s controversial martial law imposition on Tuesday night lasted only six hours before it was overturned by the opposition-controlled parliament in a unanimous vote and was lifted by Yoon before daybreak Wednesday. But the short-lived declaration is threatening to plunge the country into a political turmoil and tarnishing its international image.

In his martial law announcement, Yoon cited the need to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces.” But it’s still unclear why Yoon pressed ahead with martial law when it was obvious that it would be rejected by the National Assembly. Some experts say Yoon likely hoped to divert public attentions away from a spate of scandals involving himself and his wife.

In response to questions by the AP about Lee’s comments, the presidential office said that Yoon has no problems in handling state affairs and making decisions and he is performing his duties normally.

Yoon hasn’t made any public appearance since he announced he was lifting martial law, though his office said Thursday the president replaced his defense minister, who was believed to have recommended the martial law decree to Yoon.

Lee’s Democratic Party and other small opposition parties are pushing for a parliamentary vote on an impeachment motion on Yoon on Saturday to suspend his presidential power and responsibility. They call Yoon's martial law “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.”

But they need backing from some members of the governing People Power Party to reach the two-thirds majority required to pass the impeachment motion. If approved, the Constitutional Court is to determine whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential power.

Opinion surveys showed that Lee, who lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon by a razor-thin margin, is the favorite to succeed Yoon in the 2027 race, despite facing several court trials over corruption and other charges.

Earlier Friday, Han Dong-hun, leader of the ruling People Power Party, raised the need to suspend Yoon’s presidential power swiftly, saying he poses a “significant risk of extreme actions, like reattempting to impose martial law." Han earlier said his party would oppose the passage of Yoon’s impeachment motion to prevent social chaos.

Lee said his party has been contacting and persuading PPP members to join opposition parties’ efforts to impeach Yoon. He downplayed the significance of Han’s comments, saying it will likely be “his individual opinion.” Lee noted that PPP’s official position remains unchanged.

Han leads a minority faction within PPP whose 18 lawmakers voted down Yoon's martial law declaration together with opposition lawmakers.

Lee said that prospects for the impeachment motion’s passage is “fluid.” But he said the ruling party wouldn’t survive if it makes a decision that goes against public sentiment. A survey released Thursday indicated that more than 70% of South Koreans support Yoon’s impeachment, while another survey published Friday put Yoon's approval rating at 16%, the lowest since he took office in May 2022.

Lee argued that Yoon has already virtually lost authority as president so that he is unable to govern the country and will only likely opt for other drastic steps to avoid crises.

“Thus, it’s necessary to mobilize all available methods and capabilities to suspend Yoon at the earliest possible time,” Lee said.

Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion if the current one is voted down. Lee said public support of Yoon’s impeachment motion would eventually result in making the ruling party back the motion.

South Korean lawmakers hold arms at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korean lawmakers and members of opposition parties gather at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. The part of letters at bottom "Impeachment, Yoon Suk Yeol." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. The part of letters at bottom "Impeachment, Yoon Suk Yeol." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

In this photo provided by South Korea Presidential Office, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (South Korea Unification Ministry via AP).

FILE - South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, right, looks on as South Korea's Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, on Nov. 1, 2024. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

People hold candles during a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. The letters read "Resign Yoon Suk Yeol." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Protesters march to the presidential office after a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A woman shouts slogans during a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korea's ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hun, right, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jo Sung-bong/Newsis via AP)

South Korea's ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hun, center, is surrounded by the media at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Park Dong-ju/Yonhap via AP)

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, bottom center, shouts slogans during a joint press conference with members of civil society and the five opposition parties to condemn the ruling People Power Party at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. The signs read "Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol." (Park Dong-ju/Yonhap via AP)

Protesters supporting South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to denounce opposition party's politicians in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. The signs read "Support Yoon Suk Yeol." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. The letters read "Yoon Suk Yeol." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan acknowledges that sharing a name and party affiliation with the incumbent Republican gives him “an instant megaphone" in the crowded primary race. But Sullivan said his campaign isn't a sham or something Democrats put him up to doing.

He said friends for years have jokingly referred to him as senator and asked if he has ever thought about running. He said he’s been considering it for more than a decade.

“This is my choice,” Sullivan, who lives in the small fishing community of Petersburg, said in a telephone interview Monday.

Last week, Sen. Dan Sullivan accused the challenger Sullivan of “trying to trick” voters to help his main rival in the race, Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. The senator suggested the other Sullivan's entrance in the August primary was part of a coordinated effort by Democrats and Peltola's campaign to confuse voters, an accusation they deny. He threatened litigation to get to the bottom of it.

The issue is of national concern to Republicans because they are seeking to hold onto their majority in the U.S. Senate in what is expected to be a difficult midterm election year for the party in power. Sullivan, the challenger, dismissed claims that his candidacy is a merely a ruse to undermine the senator's reelection chances.

He said he has had no contact with Peltola's campaign — “zero, none, zilch” — and said “no” when asked if anyone from the state Democratic Party or any national Democratic operatives had contacted him to run.

A Peltola spokesperson, Harry Child, has said the campaign “has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign.” The executive director of the Alaska Democratic Party, Jenny-Marie Stryker, said her organization “is in no way affiliated with either Dan Sullivan.” A Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson, Monica Robinson, replied “no” when asked if the group had been involved in urging the challenger Sullivan to run.

Sullivan called sharing a name with the Alaska's incumbent U.S. senator “a matter of fate” and said he had done nothing wrong.

“I have every right to run for whatever office I'm qualified for, and I’m qualified for this office,” the challenger said, adding: “I think I’m doing what most Americans would think would be a patriotic thing to do when you’re unsatisfied with the status quo. You stand up and say, I’m going to fight for things I believe that are going to make my community better.”

Ballots in prior years in Alaska have not identified the incumbent, but the Alaska Division of Elections’ current candidate list online does. It also distinguishes the candidates using a middle initial — Dan S. Sullivan for the senator and Dan J. Sullivan for the challenger.

Alaska has open primaries in which the top four vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the ranked choice general election in November. Sen. Sullivan's campaign worries having two Dan Sullivans on the ballot could confuse voters.

Sen. Sullivan's campaign, in a statement Monday, said, “Alaskans deserve a fair and honest election — not political games meant to manipulate the ballot and benefit Democrats.”

The challenger said he was registered with the limited government-leaning Alaskan Independence Party for decades, until the party's dissolution late last year. Election officials had said voters registered with the party could change their affiliation but if they did not, they'd be shown as “undeclared.” Sullivan said he then was listed as undeclared until filing to run for office, when he registered as Republican.

He said he was motivated in part by his late father, whom he described as a “true, compassionate, conservative Republican.” He said if he had to label himself, it would be “a pragmatic Republican centrist” — similar to Alaska's senior U.S. senator, Lisa Murkowski, but “with touches of a Rand Paul Republican in there.”

He said he grew up in the Chicago area but was drawn to Alaska and put down roots nearly 50 years ago in Petersburg. The fishing community of about 3,400 in southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest is known as “Little Norway” for its many residents with Scandinavian roots. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service before changing careers and becoming a teacher. He has since retired.

Like most communities in Alaska, Petersburg isn't connected to the state's main road system and is accessible only by air or water. Juneau, the nearest city, is about 45 minutes away by plane.

Petersburg sits on Mitkof Island, which is distinguished by mountains, thick stands of forest and boggy areas called muskeg. Sea lions hauled up on buoys and humpback whales and orcas are common sights off its shores.

Sullivan, who will turn 69 this weekend, passed on an interview request last Friday, he said, because the king salmon were running and he wanted to fish.

As far as his run for office, the challenger said he plans to do some fundraising and hopes to campaign in the state's larger cities, including Anchorage and Juneau, but he so far has no firm plans to do so and is working on the details.

He finds the current dustup over his Senate run — and the incumbent's reaction — a bit surprising.

“I guess my thought would be, ‘Dude, why don’t you just run your campaign?’ If you’ve got a strong record, run on your record. People will love you for it and you’ll be swept back into office,” he said Monday. “Why would he be concerned that a guy out of Petersburg is this huge threat?”

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, heads to a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)