South Korea: Nationwide Protests Demand Impeachment of Yoon Just Before Voting
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Seoul, Dec 13 (NationPress) Nationwide protests unfolded on Friday, just one day before South Korea's National Assembly is set to vote on a second motion for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol regarding a failed martial law declaration.
Civic organizations orchestrated a candlelight vigil outside the National Assembly in western Seoul, while smaller groups convened across various regions to persist in their demonstrations demanding Yoon's ousting from office, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
"Oust him," proclaimed one picket sign, while another demanded to "Dissolve the People Power Party," referring to the ruling political party.
The protests were marked by a festival-like atmosphere, with stalls providing warm drinks to help participants withstand the chill.
A second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol has been submitted to the National Assembly on Friday, following the nation's turmoil sparked by his December 3 martial law invocation.
Despite the backlash, Yoon has stood firm, asserting on Thursday that the declaration was "within the realm of executive authority, which is not subject to judicial review," and he plans to resist "until the very end."
The main opposition party, the Democratic Party (DP), along with other opposition factions, initially scheduled the voting for 5 p.m. on Saturday, but the National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik advanced the timing to 4 p.m.
DP leader Lee Jae-myung urged members of the ruling party to support the motion, highlighting that impeachment is the "quickest and most reliable means to resolve this turmoil."
If the motion is approved, the Constitutional Court will determine whether to reinstate or remove Yoon from office. If upheld, Yoon would become the second president in South Korea's history to be impeached, following former President Park Geun-hye in 2017.
The nation remains in a state of unrest after Yoon's December 3 martial law declaration was rapidly overturned by the National Assembly.
