SEOUL: South Korean lawmakers launched a campaign to oust President Yoon Suk Yeol in the early hours of Thursday, accusing him of declaring martial law to stop criminal investigations into him and his family.
Yoon's declaration of South Korea's first martial law in more than four decades was quickly revoked by lawmakers on a dramatic night, but has plunged the country into political turmoil and alarmed close allies.
The future of Yoon, a conservative politician and former star prosecutor who was elected president in 2022, now appears very uncertain.
After jumping fences and fighting with security forces to enter parliament and reject martial law overnight, opposition lawmakers filed a motion to impeach Yoon.
The motion says Yoon “seriously and extensively violated the constitution and the law” and accuses him of imposing martial law “with the unconstitutional and illegal intent to evade imminent investigations.” […] for alleged illegal acts involving him and his family.”
In an early morning session Thursday, lawmakers presented the impeachment motion to parliament.
“This is an unforgivable crime, one that cannot, should not and will not be forgiven,” said Rep. Kim Seung-won.
Under South Korean law, the motion must be voted on between 24 and 72 hours after it is presented in a parliamentary session, according to Yonhap news agency.
The main opposition party, the Democratic Party, has also filed a complaint of “insurrection” against the president, some of his ministers and senior military and police officials, which can carry a sentence of life in prison or even death.
In a show of public anger with Yoon, thousands of protesters gathered around his office in central Seoul on Wednesday night after staging a demonstration in Gwanghwamun Square, demanding his resignation.
The Seoul stock exchange closed down more than one percent on Wednesday as markets were hit by the turmoil.
Even the leader of Yoon's own ruling party described the martial law attempt as “tragic” and called for those involved to be held accountable.
But party lawmakers then decided to oppose the motion to impeach Yoon, Yonhap reported early Thursday morning.
Defiant legislators
In his late-night television announcement Tuesday imposing martial law, Yoon cited the threat from North Korea and “anti-state forces.”
More than 280 soldiers, some arriving by helicopter, arrived at the parliament to close the place.
But 190 lawmakers defied soldiers armed with rifles to force their way into the building and vote against the measure.
The constitution says martial law must be lifted when a parliamentary majority demands it, leaving Yoon no choice but to retract his decision and suspend military service in another televised speech six hours later.
Senior aides to Yoon offered to resign en masse on Wednesday, as did the defense minister, who took “full responsibility for the confusion and concern” surrounding the declaration of martial law.
By night, Yoon had yet to reappear publicly.
The repeal of martial law sparked jubilation among flag-waving protesters outside parliament who had braved freezing temperatures to remain vigil all night in defiance of Yoon's order.
