Seoul: Rep. Ihn Yohan of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) announced his resignation on Wednesday, urging the nation to move past the "unfortunate events" following a failed martial law attempt by former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the unexpected resignation of Ihn, who secured a proportional seat in the April 10 general elections last year, highlights the ongoing turmoil within the PPP following the attempted martial law. Ihn, the first foreigner to pass South Korea's medical licensing examination and a special naturalized citizen, expressed his desire to conclude his brief parliamentary tenure and return to his medical profession.

Ihn stated, "Starting with myself, I am giving up all my vested interests and returning to my field to contribute to national unity and development." His departure comes amid internal strife within the PPP, which has been struggling since Yoon's failed attempt at martial law and subsequent impeachment.

The attempt at martial law has left the party divided and weakened its position as the main opposition. Ihn emphasized the need for national unity and warned against the dangers of partisan politics, saying, "Politics driven solely by partisanship exhausts the public and is an obstacle to national progress."

Despite efforts by PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok to persuade Ihn to remain, his decision was influenced by "frustration and a sense of helplessness," as described by PPP lawmaker Shin Dong-wook. With Ihn's resignation, Rep. Lee So-hee is set to assume his parliamentary seat.

Ihn's brief tenure in politics included a stint as the head of the PPP's innovation committee under the Yoon administration, a role he relinquished after just 42 days. Known for his fluency in Korean and his use of the Jeolla region dialect, Ihn received South Korean citizenship in 2012 as a "foreign special contributor."

Born in Suncheon to a family with deep ties to both Korea and the United States, Ihn's background is steeped in a legacy of advocacy and service. His great-grandfather, Eugene Bell, was an American missionary, while his grandfather, William Linton, worked to expose Japan's colonial rule of Korea. His father, Hugh Linton, served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, participating in the pivotal Incheon Landing Operation.