South Korean President Faces Impeachment Vote As Defence Minister Offers To Resign

South Korean MPs have begun impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol after thwarting his shock move to impose martial law.

The president had said martial law was needed to protect the country from “North Korea’s communist forces” and to “eliminate anti-state elements.”

Though he cited North Korea, President Yoon’s decision was seen as a response to domestic pressure and a series of scandals. Less than two hours after his declaration, MPs forced their way into the National Assembly and voted to block his decision – some broke through barricades; the parliament’s speaker told the media he climbed over a wall.

After the assembly vote, President Yoon announced he was reversing his martial law decision – MPs will now vote on his impeachment in the coming days.

Yoon’s defence minister Kim Yong-hyun – said to be influential in the president’s martial law plan – offered his resignation on Wednesday and a woman who stood before a soldier and grabbed his gun in parliament last night has told the the media why she did it.

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