South Korea’s parliament has voted to impeach the president

South Korea’s second impeachment vote follows a rebellion against Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3 martial law

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean lawmakers are set to vote for a second time on an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday, as authorities investigate allegations of rebellion over his controversial Dec. 3 martial law decree that has caused huge political turmoil in the country.

Huge crowds of protesters massed outside the National Assembly and around the country erupted in celebration, many of them waving light sticks often seen at K-pop concerts.

He said that his journey for the future should continue even though he is pausing for now.

Opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung hailed the impeachment as proof “that the people are owners of this country,” and a victory in the “first round” of a protracted struggle.

In a fiery speech on Thursday, Yoon rejected the rebellion charges, calling his martial law order an act of governance. The Democratic Party has flexed its legislative muscle to impeach top officials, and the government’s budget bill for next year was undermined by that, according to the conservative.

He became isolated as his supporters either abandoned him or were arrested and suspended from their duties.

Military commanders who were involved in the martial law decree were suspended from their duties because the military was not prepared for the possibility of a North Korean attack.

While Yoon’s popularity withered at home, he remained a popular figure with the Biden administration, which Yoon helped to achieve some of its key Asia policy aims, most notably tightening trilateral cooperation among the U.S., South Korea and Japan.

In its first impeachment motion, opposition parties charged that “under the guise of so-called ‘value diplomacy,’ the [Yoon] administration ignored geopolitical balance” by alienating North Korea, China and Russia and pursuing an “unusual pro-Japan stance.”

The local media report that after the impeachment motion, the U.S. officials asked the opposition politicians about the language questioning some of the Biden administration’s signature achievements in the region. The second impeachment bill had language removed from it.

Demonstration in Seoul for a resolution of the Seoul’s impeachment crisis after two weeks of demonstrations against Yoon

Tens of thousands of people have braved the bitter cold and poured onto the streets of the capital, Seoul, every night for the past two weeks, calling for Yoon’s ouster and arrest. They waved K-pop light sticks. More conservative supporters of the president have rallied in the capital to protest attempts to impeach him. Both rallies have largely been peaceful.

Many people use idol light sticks even though they are expensive. I think it’s become a really great culture because people are bringing their most precious and brightest possessions to express their will and opinions,” said Hong Gayeong, a 29-year-old protester, near the National Assembly on Friday night.

The Democratic Party and five other opposition parties control the 300-member unicameral parliament with a combined 192 seats, but they are eight seats shy of the two-thirds majority needed to pass Yoon’s impeachment motion.

Yoon’s defense minister, police chief and the head of Seoul’s metropolitan police agency have been arrested over their roles in the martial law case. Other military and government officials face investigations as well.