World

South Korean opposition parties submit motion to impeach president

The parties say they aim put the motion to a floor vote on Saturday.

Members of the National Assembly in Seoul voted for impeachment of two men (Lee Jin-man/AP)
Members of the National Assembly in Seoul voted for impeachment of two men (Lee Jin-man/AP) (Lee Jin-man/AP)

South Korea’s parliament says the country’s six opposition parties have submitted a new joint motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his declaration of martial law.

The National Assembly said the main opposition Democratic Party and five smaller opposition parties submitted the impeachment motion on Thursday afternoon.

The parties say they aim put the motion to a floor vote on Saturday.

A TV screen shows South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s televised briefing at a bus terminal in Seoul (Ahn Young-joon/AP)
A TV screen shows South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s televised briefing at a bus terminal in Seoul (Ahn Young-joon/AP) (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

Mr Yoon’s short-lived December 3 martial law declaration has triggered political chaos and large protests calling for his removal.

The Democratic Party has argued that Mr Yoon’s decree amounted to rebellion.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Yoon defended his decree as an act of governance and denied rebellion charges.