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Opposition lawmakers in South Korea have set the stage for a historic political battle by initiating impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol. The move stems from his failed attempt to impose martial law, a bold action that many have criticized as a dangerous step toward authoritarianism.
With tensions mounting across the nation, this challenge to the president’s authority reflects the growing divide between the ruling administration and its opponents.
Wednesday dawned on South Korea with a sense of unease, following a night of extraordinary political drama. President Yoon’s surprise move to impose martial law set off a chain of events that saw 190 lawmakers swiftly unite to vote against it. In a stunning turn, the decision was abruptly reversed, leaving the nation grappling with the aftermath of an unprecedented political spectacle.
The clock is ticking for South Korea’s parliament, which has 72 hours to decide on the impeachment motion filed against President Yoon. The Democratic Party, the leading opposition, has already raised the stakes by demanding that Yoon be charged with “crimes of rebellion.” As the pressure mounts, the situation threatens to ignite deeper divisions within the nation’s political sphere.
While schools, banks, and government offices in Seoul continue to operate normally, the city has been far from peaceful. Protests have erupted across various districts, with demonstrators demanding the removal of President Yoon Suk-yeol. “Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol,” chanted groups of angry citizens, their voices echoing through the streets in a defiant show of opposition to the current administration.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, South Korea’s largest labor group, escalated the political tension on Wednesday, declaring its intent to initiate an indefinite strike. The group’s demand is clear: President Yoon Suk-yeol must step down. This move marks a significant intensification in the wave of protests sweeping the nation, with labor leaders joining forces to amplify their calls for change.
The Democratic Party also named Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, as “key participants” of the martial law declaration, saying it also wanted them charged alongside Yoon.
“The [party] condemns the unconstitutional and illegal emergency martial law of Yoon Seok Yeol’s regime as a crime of rebellion,” the party’s spokesman Seung Rae-cho told reporters.
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“I urge the investigative agencies to immediately launch an investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice as the entire nation is aware of the rebellion.”
Wednesday’s announcement comes after dramatic scenes overnight, which saw some opposition lawmakers break barricades and climb fences to get to the voting chamber.
Hundreds of troops stormed the parliament after Yoon declared martial law, as military helicopters circled the site.
Thousands of protesters arrived at the gates of the National Assembly, as 190 lawmakers evaded police lines and forced themselves inside to vote down the order.
The air outside South Korea’s parliament turned electric as protesters erupted in applause following the second announcement — a dramatic reversal of the leader’s previous order. The shift, which caught many off guard, seemed to signal that the pressure from the streets had successfully swayed the political winds, turning what had been a tense standoff into a rare victory for the demonstrators who had rallied against the original decision.
In a swift and unexpected move on Wednesday, Yoon’s senior aides — among them, Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk and National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik — handed in their resignations.
While their departures reflect the growing pressure on the administration, the fate of these resignations remains uncertain, with no clear indication yet on whether the president will formally accept them or seek a different course of action.
The presidential office came to the defense of its controversial decision to declare martial law, stating on Wednesday that the move was “strictly within the constitutional framework” of the country. Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, officials explained that the timing of the announcement was aimed at reducing harm to the nation’s economy and the everyday lives of citizens in the face of mounting challenges.
