SEOUL: South Korean lawmakers began a campaign to impeach President Yeon Suk-yeol in the early hours of Thursday morning, accusing him of declaring martial law to halt criminal investigations into him and his family.
Lawmakers quickly overturned Yoon’s declaration of South Korea’s first martial law in more than four decades on a dramatic night, but it plunged the country into political turmoil and alarmed its close allies.
The future of Yoon, a conservative politician and former prosecutor who was elected president in 2022, now looks highly uncertain.
After jumping fences and clashing with security forces to enter Parliament and vote to abolish martial law overnight, opposition lawmakers submitted a motion to impeach Yoon.
The motion says Yoon “seriously and widely violated the Constitution and the law” and accuses him of imposing martial law “with the unconstitutional and unlawful intent to evade imminent investigations (…) into alleged illegal acts involving himself and his family.”
In an early session Thursday morning, lawmakers submitted the impeachment motion to Parliament.
“This is an unforgivable crime, a crime that cannot, should not, and will not be pardoned,” Rep. Kim Seung-won said.
Under South Korean law, the proposal must be voted on within 24 to 72 hours after it is submitted to a parliamentary session, according to Reuters. Yonhap news agency.
The main opposition Democratic Party has also filed a complaint against the president, some of his ministers, and senior military and police officials for “rebellion” — which could result in a life sentence or even death penalty.
In a show of public anger toward Yoon, thousands of protesters gathered around his office in central Seoul late Wednesday after holding a rally in Gwanghwamun Square to demand his resignation.
The Seoul Stock Exchange closed more than 1 percent lower on Wednesday due to market turmoil.
Even the leader of Yoon’s ruling party called the martial law attempt “tragic” while calling for those involved to be held accountable.
But party lawmakers then decided to oppose the motion to impeach Yoon. Yonhap Reported early Thursday.
Lawmakers unite
In his late-night television announcement of imposing martial law on Tuesday, Yoon cited the threat posed by North Korea and “anti-state forces.”
More than 280 soldiers, some by helicopter, arrived at Parliament to seal off the site.
But 190 lawmakers defied soldiers carrying rifles and stormed the building to vote against the move.
The constitution stipulates that martial law must be lifted when the parliamentary majority demands it, leaving Yoon no choice but to reverse his decision and call in the army in another televised speech six hours later.
Yoon’s top aides offered to resign en masse on Wednesday, as did the defense minister, who took “full responsibility for the confusion and anxiety” over the declaration of martial law.
By evening, Yoon had not yet made a public appearance.
The revocation of martial law led to jubilation among flag-waving protesters outside Parliament who braved freezing temperatures and stayed vigil throughout the night in defiance of Yoon’s order.