Six opposition parties in South Korea filed a motion for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol after his short decree of martial law. The move came after Yoon announced plans to remove the martial law order which became contingent on the South Korean parliament passing a motion demanding its repeal.
In an unexpected live address Tuesday night, President Yoon explained the declaration of martial law as needed to defend a “liberal South Korea” from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to end anti-state elements.
According to Yonhap news agency, the military said that under martial law, parliamentary activities and functions of political parties would be suspended and the operations of the media and publishing businesses would come under the control of the martial law command.
The protests erupted outside the parliament, and hundreds gathered against the president’s Yoon decision. Since his election to office in 2022, Yoon has faced difficulties in advancing his agenda amid an opposition-controlled parliament.
