13 hours Ago
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the Korea-Pacific Islands Summit in Seoul, last week. PHOTO: Reuters South Korean lawmakers submitted a bill on Wednesday to impeach president Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law and reversed the move hours later, triggering a political crisis in Asia's fourth-largest economy, reports Reuters. The surprise declaration of martial law late on Tuesday caused a standoff with parliament, which rejected Mr Yoon's attempt to ban political activity and censor the media, as armed troops forced their way into the National Assembly building in Seoul.
The main opposition Democratic Party called for Mr Yoon, who has been in office since 2022, to resign or face impeachment. Six South Korean opposition parties later submitted a bill in parliament to impeach Mr Yoon, with voting set for Friday or Saturday. "We couldn't ignore the illegal martial law," Democratic Party member of parliament Kim Yong-min told reporters.
"We can no longer let democracy collapse." There were deep divisions in Mr Yoon's ruling People Power Party as well, as its leader called for defence minister Kim Yong-hyun to be fired and the entire cabinet to resign. Mr Kim has offered to resign, the defence ministry said.
Mr Yoon told the nation in a television speech late on Tuesday that martial law was needed to defend the country from pro-North Korean anti-state forces, and protect the free constitutional order, although he cited no specific threats. Chaotic scenes ensued as troops tried to seize control of the parliament building, although they stood back when parliamentary aides sprayed them with fire extinguishers while protesters scuffled with police outside. The military said activities by parliament and political parties would be banned, and that media and publishers would be under the control of the martial law command.
But lawmakers defied the security cordon and within hours of the declaration, South Korea's parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, unanimously passed a motion for martial law be lifted, with 18 members of Mr Yoon's party present. The president then rescinded the declaration of martial law, just about six hours after its proclamation. "There are opinions that it was too much to go to emergency martial law, and that we did not follow the procedures for emergency martial law, but it was done strictly within the constitutional framework," a South Korean presidential official told Reuters by telephone.
There has been no reaction yet from North Korea to the drama in the South. Despite the overnight drama, Seoul appeared normal on Wednesday, with the usual morning rush hour traffic in trains and on the streets. Sales of canned goods, instant noodles and bottled water had soared overnight, said a major South Korean convenience store chain, which sought anonymity.
The National Assembly can impeach the president if more than two-thirds of members of parliament vote in favour. A trial by the constitutional court follows, which can confirm the motion with a vote by six of the nine justices. Mr Yoon's party has 108 seats in the 300-member legislature.
If Mr Yoon resigned or was removed from office, prime minister Han Duck-soo would fill in as leader until a new election was held within 60 days. US secretary of state Antony Blinken said he welcomed Mr Yoon's decision to rescind the martial law declaration. "We continue to expect political disagreements to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law," Mr Blinken said in a statement.
South Korea hosts about 28,500 American troops as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War. END/SZA.
