Impeach Yoon move gains traction after martial law debacle

South Korean lawmakers submitted a bill yesterday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law before rescinding the decision hours later following a chaotic standoff between parliament and the army.

Parliament rejected Yoon's surprise declaration of martial law, which attempted to ban political activity and censor the media, as armed troops forced their way into the National Assembly building in Seoul.

Six opposition parties later submitted a bill to impeach Yoon, with voting set for Friday or Saturday.

"We couldn't ignore the illegal martial law," DP lawmaker Kim Yong Min said. "We can no longer let democracy collapse."

Civic and labor groups held a candlelight vigil calling for Yoon's resignation - a reminder of the 2017 impeachment of former President Park Geun Hye.

The leader of Yoon's ruling People Power Party called for the defense minister Kim Yong Hyun to be fired and the entire cabinet to resign.

Yoon told the nation in a television speech late on Tuesday that martial law was needed to defend the country from pro-North Korean anti-state forces, and to protect the free constitutional order, although he cited no specific threats.

Troops tried to seize control of the parliament building, but stood back when parliamentary aides sprayed them with fire extinguishers.

Within hours of the declaration, the parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, unanimously passed a motion for martial law be lifted, with 18 members of Yoon's party present. Yoon then rescinded the declaration of martial law, around six hours after its proclamation.

"There are opinions that it was too much to go to emergency martial law and that we did not follow the procedures for emergency martial law, but it was done strictly within the constitutional framework," a presidential official said. There has been no reaction yet from North Korea to the drama in the South.

Yoon was embraced by Western leaders in the US-led effort to unify democracies against growing authoritarianism.

In November, he denied wrongdoing in response to influence-peddling allegations against him and his wife.

Seoul appeared largely normal yesterday, with the usual rush hour traffic in trains and on the streets.

South Korean stocks fell about 1.3 percent while the won was stable but close to a two-year low with dealers reporting suspected intervention by authorities.

Finance minister Choi Sang Mok and Bank of Korea governor Rhee Chang Yong held emergency meetings and the finance ministry promised to prop up markets if needed.

Sales of canned goods, instant noodles and bottled water had soared overnight, said a major South Korean convenience store chain, which sought anonymity.

The assembly can impeach the president if more than two-thirds of lawmakers vote in favor.

A trial by the constitutional court follows, which can confirm the motion with a vote by six of the nine justices.

Yoon's party has 108 seats in the 300-member legislature.

AGENCIES