A motion has been launched to impeach South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol after his declaration of martial law plunged the country into chaos.
The political leader declared the extraordinary measure on Tuesday night in a bid to thwart “anti-state forces” among his opponents.
But just hours later he was forced to back down after a dramatic confrontation with his horrified parliament, which rejected his attempt to ban political activity and censor the media.
The future of Yoon, a conservative politician and former star prosecutor who was elected president in 2022, is now very uncertain.
South Korea’s opposition parties, whose lawmakers jumped fences and clashed with security forces to reject the law, filed a motion Wednesday to impeach Yoon.
“We have presented an urgently prepared impeachment motion,” representatives of six opposition parties, including the main Democratic Party, said in a live news conference.
They added that they would discuss when to put it to a vote, but it could happen as early as Friday.
The opposition has a large majority in the 300-member parliament and needs only a handful of defections from the president’s party to secure the two-thirds majority needed to pass the motion.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday he would lift the declaration of martial law he had imposed just hours earlier.
A man confronts police officers outside the National Assembly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul.
Soldiers try to enter the National Assembly building in Seoul on December 4, 2024, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.
A helicopter flies over the National Assembly hall after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul, South Korea, on December 3, 2024.
Previously, the PD said it would file “insurrection” charges against Yoon, his defense and interior ministers and “key military and police figures involved, such as the martial law commander and the police chief,” the PD said in a statement. .
The country’s largest union called for an “indefinite general strike” until Yoon resigns.
Even the leader of Yoon’s own ruling party described the attempt as “tragic” and called for those involved to be held accountable.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said the cabinet had agreed in the early hours of Wednesday to lift martial law.
Protesters outside parliament shouted and clapped as they chanted “We won!”, and one protester banged a drum.
But Cho Kuk, leader of a minority opposition party, met protesters outside parliament and said: “This is not over.” “It left all the people in shock.” He vowed to impeach Yoon by gathering votes from other parties.
This is breaking news, there will be more to follow.