The Democratic Party, a liberal opposition party with a majority in the 300-seat parliament, announced on Wednesday that its members had agreed to demand that Mr. Yoon resign right now or face impeachment.

Hours after President Yoon Suk Yeol terminated the brief martial law that led to troops encircling the parliament before MPs agreed to lift it, the largest opposition party in South Korea on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, called on Mr. Yeol to step down immediately or risk impeachment.

Mr. Yoon did not immediately address the opposition's demand in public. However, according to his administration, the President postponed his formal Wednesday morning program, and senior presidential advisers and secretaries for Mr. Yoon volunteered to resign jointly.

After failing to advance his agenda in the opposition-dominated parliament, Mr. Yoon declared emergency martial law on Tuesday night, promising to eradicate "anti-state" groups. However, the National Assembly decided to overturn the President, thus his martial law was only in place for just six hours. During a Cabinet meeting at around 4:30 a.m., the declaration was formally lifted.

The Democratic Party, a liberal opposition party with a majority in the 300-seat parliament, announced on Wednesday that its members had agreed to demand that Mr. Yoon resign right now or face impeachment.

President Yoon Suk Yeol's proclamation of martial law was a blatant constitutional infringement, according to a statement from the Democratic Party. It did not comply with any declaration requirements. His initial proclamation of martial law was unconstitutional and a serious constitutional infraction. His impeachment is warranted since it was a serious act of rebellion.

Two-thirds of the parliament, or 200 of its 300 members, would have to agree to impeach him. Together, the Democratic Party and other minor opposition parties hold 192 seats. However, according to National Assembly officials, around ten MPs from Yoon's ruling People Power Party voted in favor of the parliament rejecting his proclamation of martial law by a vote of 190-0.