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South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol Faces Impeachment Vote on Dec 14 Over Martial Law Declaration

Dec 12, 2024, 09:03 PM

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3, a move that lasted for six hours before being reversed by the National Assembly. The declaration was made in response to what Yoon described as 'anti-state behavior' by opposition lawmakers, who he accused of weakening the government and threatening the constitutional order. This action has prompted a strong backlash, including protests and a second impeachment motion submitted by six opposition parties. The National Assembly, which had previously nullified Yoon's martial law declaration, is set to vote on the impeachment on December 14. The opposition argues that Yoon's decree was unconstitutional and akin to rebellion. Despite the political chaos, Yoon has vowed to 'fight to the end' against the impeachment attempts, insisting that his martial law order was a legal move to protect democracy. The situation has also impacted South Korea's tourism, with businesses reporting a decline in foreign visitors, prompting the mayor of Seoul to assure the public of the city's safety. Yoon's approval rating has fallen below 20 percent, and he deployed hundreds of troops to surround the parliament and invade the electoral commission during the martial law declaration.