South Korea President Faces Impeachment After Attempt to Impose Martial Law

South Korea's president yesterday shocked the country when, out of the blue, he declared martial law in the Asian democracy for the first time in nearly 50 years. 

Yoon Suk Yeol's drastic decision - announced in a late-night TV broadcast - mentioned "anti-state forces" and the threat from North Korea.

But it soon became clear that it not been spurred by external threats but by his own desperate political troubles. 

Still, it prompted thousands of people to gather at parliament in protest, while opposition lawmakers rushed there to push through an emergency vote to remove the measure. 

Lawmakers were also able to make their way around the barricades - even climbing fences to make it to the voting chamber.

Shortly after 01:00 on Wednesday, South Korea's parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, voted down the measure. 

President Yoon's declaration of martial law was ruled invalid.

Defeated, Yoon emeged a few hours later to accept the parliament's vote and lift the martial law order.

Now, he faces the prospect of possible impeachment and even expulsion from his own party. 

Source: BBC