'Do your freaking job': Outrage erupts as South Korean lawmakers boycott key impeachment vote
President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, citing threats from North Korea and accusing the National Assembly of obstructing government functions. This marked the first such declaration since 1980. Though rescinded within six hours, the move shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation, both domestically and internationally.
The streets surrounding the National Assembly in Seoul became the epicentre of dissent, with an estimated 150,000 protesters demanding Yoon’s impeachment. Banners with messages like «Impeach Yoon» and «Insurrection Criminal» were held high, while chants of «South Korea is a democratic republic» reverberated through the crowd.
The protests, which included families with young children and groups singing protest songs, carried a festival-like atmosphere but turned sombre as parliament debated Yoon’s political fate. Protester Jo Ah-gyeong, a 30-year-old Seoul resident, expressed resolve: “I’m neither discouraged nor disappointed because we’ll get it eventually. I’ll keep coming here until we do.”
Impeachment Motion Hits a Roadblock
The Democratic Party-led motion to impeach Yoon required a two-thirds majority in the 300-member National Assembly. However, lawmakers from Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) began leaving the chamber, jeopardising the vote. Opposition lawmakers and protesters alike criticised their departure.
“What the ruling party lawmakers did today—walking away from the vote—is nothing more than an attempt to cement their power and status, with no regard for the people,” said
