On Wednesday, South Korea’s opposition parties moved to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after his brief and controversial attempt to impose martial law, which led to massive protests.
Lawmakers from the opposition, particularly the Democratic Party (DP), filed the impeachment motion following a heated National Assembly session. Kim Yong-min, a DP member, confirmed the urgent submission, stating, “We’ve submitted an impeachment motion prepared urgently.” While a vote has not yet been scheduled, it could take place as early as Friday.
With a strong majority in the 300-member parliament, the opposition needs only a few defections from Yoon’s party to secure the two-thirds majority required for the motion to pass.
Earlier in the day, President Yoon reversed his decision to impose martial law after lawmakers, defying security forces, voted against the declaration and thousands of citizens protested. The National Assembly unanimously voted against the martial law during a late-night session. In a televised address, Yoon announced, “We will accept the National Assembly’s request and lift the martial law through the Cabinet meeting.”
