Anchor: In the midst of a political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's surprise declaration of emergency martial law late Tuesday, and subsequent lifting upon a parliamentary resolution, the opposition bloc and citizens rallied for the president’s resignation or his impeachment. The opposition parties submitted an impeachment motion to be put to a plenary vote either on Friday or Saturday.
Choi You Sun reports.

Report: [Nat Sound from Opposition-Led Rally in front of National Assembly - Dec. 4, 2024]

Crowds gathered in front of the National Assembly on Wednesday, urging President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down or calling for his impeachment, hours after emergency martial law he had declared the night before was lifted following an unanimous resolution by parliament.

At the rally organized by a bloc of five opposition parties, main opposition Democratic Party(DP) leader Lee Jae-myung claimed Yoon does not make decisions based on standards that ordinary people apply.

The opposition chief said he believes the president may attempt to declare martial law again and could even provoke North Korea, thus bringing about armed conflict if he concludes that martial law measures are not effective.

Some civic groups and progressive parties outside the Assembly have filed complaints of power abuse and treason with the prosecution against both Yoon and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who reportedly advised the president about martial law.

Meanwhile, the DP and five minor parties  - Rebuilding Korea Party, the Reform Party, the Jinbo Party, the Basic Income Party, and the Social Democratic Party - submitted a motion Wednesday afternoon seeking Yoon's impeachment.

All 190 lawmakers from the six parties, as well as independent Rep. Kim Jong-min, supported the impeachment motion, which is set to be reported to the plenary session on Thursday to be put to a vote either on Friday or Saturday.

The motion accused the president of declaring martial law in violation of the Constitution and the law, thereby infringing upon the sovereignty of the people and the principle of division of power.

The motion must be put to a plenary vote between 24 and 72 hours after its submission, and the impeachment would be approved with support from at least two-thirds of the 300-member Assembly.
Choi You Sun, KBS World Radio News.