South Korea’s main opposition party is urging President Yoon Suk Yeol to resign immediately or face an impeachment, hours after Yoon lifted a short-lived martial law that prompted soldiers to encircle parliament.

Summary

South Korea’s main opposition party has called for President Yoon Suk Yeol to resign or face impeachment after his six-hour martial law declaration, deemed unconstitutional.

Yoon’s move, the first martial law since the 1980s, involved deploying troops to encircle parliament but was swiftly overturned by a 190-0 vote in the opposition-controlled legislature.

Critics, including U.S. officials, condemned the action as a democratic setback.

The Democratic Party, holding 192 seats with allies, may pursue impeachment, recalling South Korea’s history of ousting presidents through public and legislative pressure.

Yoon has yet to publicly respond.