South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been impeached by the National Assembly over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law, a move that plunged South Korea into political turmoil halfway through his presidency.
The unicameral National Assembly voted 204 to 85 on Saturday to impeach Yoon, the second such vote in eight days. Three members abstained and eight votes were declared invalid.
The vote was done by secret ballot, with two-thirds of the votes required for impeachment. All 300 members of the assembly cast their ballots.
Audible gasps were heard from the chamber as the result of the voting was announced. Outside, thousands of protesters greeted the announcement with applause and loud cheers.
In a statement following the vote, Yoon vowed to do his best for his country “until the end”.
“Although I am pausing for now, my journey for the future with the people over the past two and a half years shouldn’t stop,” Yoon said in a public address recorded at his residence.
Credit: Aljazeera.com( With changes in headline)
