Pakistan, May 17 -- A few weeks before South Korea's June 3 snap presidential election, former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared on Saturday that he is leaving the conservative People Power Party (PPP).

In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Yoon said his departure was a step toward safeguarding South Korea's democracy, urging voters to back PPP candidate Kim Moon-soo. "I am leaving the People Power Party to fulfil my responsibility to protect the free Republic of Korea," he wrote, adding, "Please lend your support to Kim Moon-soo."

Yoon's exit follows mounting pressure from within the PPP to step aside, as public backlash over his controversial declaration of martial law last December continues to weigh heavily on the party's prosp...