South Korea's Opposition Pushes For Impeachment Of President Yoon Suk Yeol Over Martial Law Imposition

Seoul: South Korea's opposition parties on Wednesday submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over the shocking imposition of martial law which was lifted by the lawmakers within hours. But before the short-lived martial law was lifted, there was much commotion with heavily armed troops encircling the parliament.

In a dramatic anti-climax, lawmakers climbed walls to re-enter the building and unanimously voted to lift the order. Impeaching Yoon would require the support of two-thirds of parliament, and at least six justices of the nine-member Constitutional Court would have to endorse it.

The motion -- submitted jointly by the main liberal opposition Democratic Party and five smaller opposition parties -- could be put to a vote as early as Friday. The Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the 300-seat parliament, said on Wednesday the martial law declaration was a clear violation of the constitution.

‘‘It didn't abide by any requirements,” a statement said. “His martial law declaration was originally invalid and a grave violation of the constitution. It was a grave act of rebellion and provides perfect grounds for his impeachment.”

About Yoon's Martial Law Declaration

Yoon's martial law declaration, the first of its kind in more than 40 years, harkened to South Korea's past military-backed governments when authorities occasionally proclaimed martial law and other decrees that allowed them to station combat soldiers, tanks and armoured vehicles on streets or at public places like schools to prevent anti-government demonstrations. Such scenes of military intervention had not been seen since South Korea achieved democracy in the late 1980s until Tuesday night.