South Korean president expresses regret for imposing martial law prior to impeachment ballot.

Yoon Suk Yeol, the South Korean President, on Saturday expressed regret for his brief announcement of martial law earlier in the week, as he now prepares for a vote in parliament to remove him from office.

Yoon stated in a televised address on Saturday morning that he would not take legal or political responsibility for the declaration and would not make another attempt to impose it, according to The Associated Press. The conservative president said he would leave it to his party to provide a solution amid the country's political turmoil, including issues related to his term in office.

"Yoon stated that his declaration of martial law was due to desperation, but its implementation caused anxiety and inconvenience to the public. He deeply regrets this and sincerely apologizes to those who were shocked."

On Tuesday, Yoon labeled parliament a "criminal den" that hinders state affairs and vowed to eradicate "shameless North Korea supporters and anti-state elements."

On Saturday afternoon, a National Assembly vote on an opposition-led motion to impeach Yoon is scheduled. The opposition parties, who jointly brought the impeachment motion, have 192 seats in the legislature, which means they need eight more votes from Yoon's conservative People Power Party to secure the required two-thirds majority to pass the motion.

On Friday, although the party remained formally opposed to impeachment, Yoon's party called for his removal.

Rebellion charges have been filed against Yoon through an impeachment motion drafted by opposition lawmakers, who claim his declaration of martial law was a self-coup.

If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court determines whether to remove him from office. As the second in command in the South Korean government, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would assume the presidential responsibilities.

If the president is removed, an election to choose his successor must take place within 60 days.

On Tuesday, special forces troops surrounded the parliament building and army helicopters flew overhead. However, the military withdrew after the National Assembly voted unanimously to overturn Yoon's declaration of martial law, compelling him to lift it shortly after.

In over 40 years, South Korea had not seen the declaration of martial law again.

Since Yoon's removal is demanded, thousands of demonstrators have protested in Seoul's streets, waving banners, shouting slogans and singing along to K-pop songs with altered lyrics.

Yoon ordered the defense counterintelligence commander to arrest and detain key politicians during martial law, based on accusations of "anti-state activities," according to Han.

Following Yoon's televised address, Han once more urged the president to step down, stating that he was unable to perform his official responsibilities in a normal manner.

According to Han, the early resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol is certain.

According to Kim Byung-kee, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting, Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, revealed to lawmakers in a closed-door briefing that Yoon called after imposing martial law and instructed him to assist the defense counterintelligence unit in detaining key politicians, including Han, the main liberal opposition Democratic Party's leader Lee Jae-myung, and National Assembly speaker Woo Won Shik.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.