Anchor: The main opposition Democratic Party proposed a bill on Monday to appoint a special counsel to investigate President Yoon Suk Yeol for treason over the martial law order he issued last week. Seeking to buy time to raise its chances in the next presidential election, the ruling People Power Party says it will arrange what it calls an “early exit” for the president, but the main opposition plans to convene a plenary session to vote on Yoon’s impeachment every Saturday until he is removed.
Kim Bum-soo has wrapped up the latest.
 
Report: The ruling camp is trying to resuscitate the Yoon Suk Yeol presidency in its terminal phase as it works out a succession scheme.
 
In a joint news conference with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Sunday, ruling People Power Party chief Han Dong-hoon promised Yoon’s presidency will end early and in an orderly fashion. 
 
[Soundbite: People Power Party Chairman Han Dong-hoon (Korean-English)]
“We believe there will be no chaos in the orderly early exit [of the president]. Until the president leaves, the prime minister will cooperate closely with the party to attend to people’s livelihoods and state affairs. Even before his official exit, the president will not be involved in state governance, including foreign affairs. We will make sure of this so that the public and the international community will not be concerned.”  

The ruling party convened various meetings on Monday to discuss a timetable for Yoon’s exit. 
 
But the main opposition Democratic Party says it is unconstitutional for the prime minister and the ruling party to take over as joint acting presidents when Yoon in fact retains his authority behind the curtain.
 
Unless the president steps down immediately, opposition lawmakers believe Yoon should either be arrested or impeached so the second-in-command in the government can rightfully take charge.
 
While announcing its plans to convene a plenary session every Saturday to vote on Yoon’s impeachment, the Democratic Party also put forth a proposal on Monday calling for a special counsel investigation to look into insurrection allegations against the president.

That bill is set for a floor vote later this week.
 
[Soundbite: National Assembly impeachment vote (Dec. 8)]
 
Four days after Yoon’s martial law order, which lasted for six hours, the opposition convened a plenary session Saturday to oust Yoon. 

But the majority of ruling party lawmakers boycotted the vote and managed to stymie the process for lack of a quorum.
 
[Soundbite: Anti-Yoon Street rally in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul (Dec. 8)]
“Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol!” 
“Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol!”
 
Amid mounting public calls for the president’s removal, it remains unclear how long the ruling party will be able to hold up the fort as it seeks to establish a post-Yoon strategy in the face of the pan-opposition push for a regime change. 
Kim Bum-soo, KBS World Radio News.