South Korean President faces second impeachment vote over his martial law order

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 December 3 martial law decree that has caused huge political turmoil in the country reported news agency the Associated PressLast Saturday Yoon survived an impeachment vote after most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a floor vote Its not clear if those People Power Party lawmakers would do the same again Public protests against Yoon have since intensified and his approval rating has plummetedTens 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 Yoons ouster and arrest They shouted slogans sang danced and waved Kpop light sticks Smaller groups of Yoons conservative supporters still in the thousands have also been rallying in Seoul denouncing attempts to impeach the president Both rallies have largely been peaceful reported the Associated PressMany people are using idol light sticks even though they are expensive I think its 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 29yearold protester near the National Assembly on Friday night reported Associated PressYoons martial law imposition the first of its kind in more than four decades in South Korea lasted only six hours but has caused massive political tumult halted diplomatic activities and rattled financial markets Yoon was forced to lift his decree after parliament unanimously voted to overturn itAfter declaring martial law Yoon sent hundreds of troops and police officers to the parliament to try to impede its vote on the decree before they withdrew after the parliament rejected it No major violence occurredOpposition parties and many experts accuse Yoon of rebellion citing a law clause that categorises as rebellion the staging of a riot against established state authorities to undermine the constitution They also say that by law a president in South Korea is allowed to declare martial law only during wartime or similar emergencies and has no right to suspend parliaments operations even under martial lawThe impeachment motion alleged that Yoon committed rebellion that hurts peace in the Republic of Korea by staging a series of riots It said Yoons mobilization of military and police forces threatened the National Assembly and the public and that his martial law decree was aimed at disturbing the Constitution reported the Associated PressIn a fiery speech on Thursday Yoon rejected the rebellion charges calling his martial law order an act of governance The conservative Yoon said he aimed to issue a warning to the main liberal opposition Democratic Party calling it a monster and antistate forces that he argued has flexed its legislative muscle to impeach top officials and undermined the governments budget bill for next year reported Associated PressI will fight to the end to prevent the forces and criminal groups that have been responsible for paralysing the countrys government and disrupting the nations constitutional order from threatening the future of the Republic of Korea Yoon said reported Associated PressDemocratic Party leader Lee Jaemyung called Yoons speech a mad declaration of war against his own peopleThe Democratic Party and five other opposition parties control the 300member unicameral parliament with a combined 192 seats but they are eight seats shy of the twothirds majority needed to pass Yoons impeachment motionYoon has been banned from leaving South Korea as law enforcement authorities are investigating whether he and others involved in the martial law declaration committed rebellion abuse of power and other crimes If convicted the leader of a rebellion plot can face the death penalty or life imprisonmentIf the National Assembly passes Yoons impeachment motion his presidential powers and duties will be suspended until the Constitutional Court determines whether to dismiss him as president or restore his powers If hes thrown out of office a national election to choose his successor must be held within 60 daysYoon has the presidential privilege of immunity from criminal prosecution but that doesnt extend to allegations of rebellion or treason Subsequently Yoon could be investigated detained arrested or indicted over his martial law decree but many observers doubt that authorities will forcefully detain him because of the potential for clashes with his presidential security serviceYoons defence minister police chief and the head of Seouls metropolitan police agency have been arrested over their roles in the martial law case Other senior military and government officials also face investigationsWith inputs from Associated Press