South Korea’s President Yoon Resign or Face Impeachment after Martial Law Controversy

South Korea’s main opposition party called for President Yoon Suk Yeol to resign immediately or face impeachment, following his brief imposition of martial law, which triggered a dramatic standoff between troops and parliament. The emergency measure, declared late Tuesday, aimed to curb what Yoon described as “anti-state” forces impeding his political agenda in the opposition-dominated legislature. However, the declaration lasted only six hours, as the National Assembly voted to lift the martial law in an early morning session on Wednesday.

The opposition, led by the Democratic Party, condemned the move as unconstitutional, calling it a serious violation of the law and grounds for impeachment. “President Yoon’s martial law declaration was a clear violation of the constitution. It didn’t meet any legal requirements,” the party stated, emphasizing that it was an act of rebellion.

In response to the political turmoil, President Yoon did not publicly address the call for resignation but his office announced that senior presidential aides had offered to resign collectively, and Yoon postponed his scheduled engagements for the day. Despite the Democratic Party and smaller opposition groups holding 192 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, impeaching the president would require support from at least 200 members.