S. Korea opposition files motion to impeach Yoon

The main opposition party in South Korea announced on Wednesday that it intends to file a lawsuit against President Yoon Suk-yeol and several senior security officials on charges of "rebellion," following his controversial attempt to impose martial law in the country.

The move was swiftly blocked by the National Assembly.

In a statement, the Democratic Party declared, "We will file a lawsuit for rebellion" against President Yoon, the Ministers of Defence and the Interior, and "key figures in the military and police involved" in declaring martial law.

The opposition party also revealed plans to seek the president's impeachment through a parliamentary trial.

Several senior officials from President Yoon’s administration resigned collectively on Wednesday after his attempt to impose martial law was thwarted.

According to the Yonhap News Agency, these high-ranking aides, including Chief Presidential Secretary Jeong Jin-seok, tendered their resignations, although no further details were provided.

The South Korean presidency had not immediately responded to questions from the media regarding the resignations.

Following the announcement, large crowds gathered outside the National Assembly, celebrating after hearing that the president's declaration of martial law had been overturned.

Yonhap reported that President Yoon stated that the martial law troops withdrew after the National Assembly voted to block the imposition of military rule.

Yoon’s declaration marked the first time in over 50 years that martial law had been invoked in South Korea, triggering protests near the National Assembly building.

The government swiftly rescinded the martial law order, with the South Korean military dissolving the martial law command.

The decision to impose martial law followed a turbulent period in South Korean politics, where Yoon’s administration has faced challenges from the opposition, especially after losing control of the National Assembly earlier this year.

The government's struggle to pass key legislation proposed by the opposition, which sought to undermine his authority, appears to have escalated into what critics view as a drastic and undemocratic move—one that involved temporarily ceding control to the military.

Political analysts suggest that President Yoon’s martial law announcement was a response to increasing political pressure from the opposition, whose legislative efforts threatened to weaken his position.

With the president’s loss of parliamentary control, his administration has found it increasingly difficult to advance laws that it views as crucial for governance.

In this context, critics argue that Yoon resorted to martial law as a tactic to fend off political attacks and maintain control, further polarising the political landscape.

South Korea’s democratic institutions, including the National Assembly, swiftly rebuked the president’s attempt to use military force to assert power. The incident has sparked widespread debate about the limits of presidential power in the country, with many now questioning whether Yoon’s actions could set a dangerous precedent.