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South Korean lawmakers narrowly failed to impeach the country's president over his short-lived attempt to declare martial law.
A bill to censure Yoon Suk Yeol fell three votes short of the 200 needed to pass, with many lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotting the vote.
South Korea's prime minister sparked widespread shock and anger when he declared military rule – associated with authoritarianism in the country – on Tuesday in a bid to break the political deadlock.
Yoon's statement was quickly rescinded by Parliament, before his government rescinded it hours later amid large protests.
The impeachment bill required a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to pass, meaning at least eight PPP MPs would have to vote for it.
However, all but three left the venue early on Saturday.
One of those who remained, Cho Kyung-tae, attributed Yoon's apology for the martial law decree on Saturday morning – after three days out of the public eye – as influencing his decision not to support the impeachment this time.
“The president's apology and his willingness to resign early, as well as delegate all political agendas to the party, had an impact on my decision,” he told the BBC before the vote.
Cho said he believed the impeachment would give the presidency to Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Lee Jae-myung.
He added that Yoon's “irrational and absurd decision” to declare martial law had “overshadowed” what he described as the KDP's “many extreme actions” while in power.
After Saturday's vote, Lee insisted his party “will not give up” on its attempts to impeach Yoon, who he said had become “the worst risk” for South Korea.
“We will definitely return this country to normal by Christmas and the end of the year,” he told a crowd gathered outside parliament in the capital Seoul.
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People continued to protest Yoon's martial law decree as Parliament voted on whether or not to impeach him.
Before Tuesday, martial law – a temporary regime imposed by military authorities in times of emergency, during which civil rights are generally restricted – had not been declared in South Korea since before the country became a parliamentary democracy in 1987.
Yoon said the measures were necessary to defeat “anti-state forces” in Parliament and referred to North Korea.
But others saw the move as an extreme reaction to the political impasse that has occurred since the PDK won a landslide victory in April, reducing its government to vetoing bills it passed , as well as Yoon's growing unpopularity following a scandal surrounding the prime minister. Lady.
The president's speech late in the evening caused dramatic scenes at the National Assembly, with demonstrators descending en masse while soldiers attempted to block the entrance to the building.
Lawmakers fought back against the soldiers, and 190 lawmakers went to the building to vote against the order.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Yoon's cabinet rescinded the declaration of martial law.
However, the short-lived military takeover resulted in daily protests in the streets. Some showed support for Yoon, but were drowned out by angry crowds.
Authorities have since revealed more information about Tuesday night's events.
The commander in charge of the military takeover said he learned about the decree on television, like everyone else in the country.
He said he refused to allow his troops to arrest lawmakers inside Parliament and did not fire live ammunition at them.
The National Intelligence Service later confirmed rumors that Yoon had ordered the arrest and interrogation of his political rivals – and even some of his supposed political allies, such as his own party leader, Han Dong – hoon.
These revelations saw some members of Yoon's own party come out in support of impeachment.
The president's apology Saturday morning appeared to be a last-ditch effort to shore up support.
He said the declaration of martial law was made out of “desperation” and promised he would not make another one.
Yoon did not offer to resign, but said he would leave decisions on how to stabilize the country to his party.
If he were to be impeached, it would not be unprecedented. In 2016, then-president Park Geun-hye was impeached after being accused of helping a friend commit extortion.
If the South Korean parliament passes an impeachment bill, a trial will take place before a constitutional court. It would take two-thirds of this court supporting the majority for him to be permanently removed from office.
Additional reporting by David Oh and Tiffanie Turnbull
