UPDATE - PARLIAMENT SESSION BEGIN, CHANGE HL, DECK
By Anadolu staff
South Korea parliament session began on Saturday to vote on impeachment motion against the President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt to impose martial law.
The impeachment motion to oust him from office was submitted by six opposition parties, including the main opposition Democratic Party.
To pass, the impeachment motion needs the support of at least eight lawmakers from Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) to reach the minimum threshold of 200 in the 300-seat parliament.
Currently, the opposition parties enjoy the support of 192 lawmakers including the assembly speaker. However, of 190 lawmakers who voted down Yoon’s martial law decree during an emergency parliament session overnight Tuesday, 18 were from the PPP.
Ruling PPP lawmakers left the parliament ahead of the impeachment vote after participating in a separate vote on a motion to appoint special counsel to probe first lady Kim Keon Hee.
Opposition bloc protested and hurled slogans as ruling PPP lawmakers left the parliament's main hall, according to local media.
Earlier, three such bills, which sought to probe Kim's role in party affairs as well as alleged stock manipulation and receiving costly gifts, were all vetoed by Yoon.
Yoon, 63, apologized to the nation for his failed attempt earlier this week to implement martial law and said he would not try to repeat such a step.
Yoon was elected in 2022 for a five-year term which is set to end in 2027.
He imposed martial law late Tuesday but it was lifted within six hours.
Intense political deliberations are going on as parliament meets to vote on the impeachment. Ruling party lawmakers are also meeting following Yoon's address to the nation.
Masses of South Koreans on Saturday gathered in front of the parliament ahead of the vote demanding Yoon’s removal from office.
Civic groups, labor groups, and college students held a series of impeachment rallies in various areas in the capital Seoul near parliament, broadcaster KBS reported.
"The number of people who registered for the rally alone is expected to exceed 200,000, making it the largest since the martial law declaration," said KBS.
One person was detained by police over trying to set himself on fire.
*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid