South Korean President faces impeachment after declaration of martial law

On December 4, South Korean lawmakers proposed impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol for his sudden decision to declare martial law, which he lifted after a standoff between parliament and the army, which damaged the country's reputation.

This was reported by Reuters.

Thus, six South Korean opposition parties have submitted a bill to parliament to impeach Yoon. The vote is scheduled for Friday or Saturday.

It is indicated that the plenary session to formally present the bill was scheduled to begin just after midnight (1500 GMT) on Wednesday.

“We could not ignore the illegal martial law. We can no longer allow democracy to collapse,” DP lawmaker Kim Yong Min told reporters.

The leader of the ruling People’s Power Party, Yoon, called for the dismissal of Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun and the resignation of the entire cabinet. Kim offered to resign, the defense ministry said.

The crisis has shaken global financial markets and sent South Korea’s KOSPI .KS11 index down 1.4%, extending its year-to-date loss to more than 7% and making it the worst-performing major stock market in Asia this year.

On December 3, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law in the country and accused the opposition of “anti-state activities aimed at preparing an uprising.”

Armed troops stormed the National Assembly building in Seoul but retreated when lawmakers’ aides sprayed them with fire extinguishers. Lawmakers rejected a decision to declare martial law, while protesters clashed with police in the street.

On Wednesday evening, civic and labor groups held a candlelight vigil in central Seoul calling for Yoon’s resignation - a reminder of the mass candlelight protests that led to the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye in 2017. They then marched to the presidential office.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden was not informed in advance about the martial law in South Korea and is “seriously concerned about what is happening.”