South Korea’s president faces impeachment after martial law chaos

‘Resign or face impeachment’ – this is South Korea’s call to the president Yoon Suk Yeol’s announcement of martial law over a ‘threat’ from North Korea on Tuesday.

Hours after Yoon ended the short-lived order – the first in almost 50 years – his own party voted to lift it. His declaration was formally lifted after some six hours, at 4.30am during a cabinet meeting.

For several hours, South Korea was in turmoil, with many questioning if this was the end of democracy. The president’s order saw soldiers encircling parliament and clashing with protesters, who climbed over the barricades and fencing.

Six South Korean opposition parties, including the main Democratic Party, have since submitted a bill calling for Yoon’s impeachment.