The vote by South Korea’s parliament to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday marked the culmination of a stunning political showdown sparked by his shock decision to impose martial law on the vibrant democratic country.

South Korea’s diplomatic and security relations with Japan experienced a dramatic turnaround under Yoon. Tokyo fears that progress won’t last under a new president.

Police estimated at least 200,000 people filled the streets of Seoul ahead of the vote. It is the second such attempt to impeach Yoon, after a previous motion failed to garner support from ruling party lawmakers.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached Saturday over his short-lived martial law decree, with twelve lawmakers from his own party joining the opposition to pass the motion in the National Assembly.

Demonstrators supporting and opposing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held rival protests several hundred metres apart in Seoul on Saturday, a week after he was impeached over his short-lived declaration of martial law.

Opponents and supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yoon held rival demonstrations in Seoul on Saturday – a week after he was impeached for declaring martial law. Tens of thousands of anti-Yoon protesters,

Thousands of supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol rallied in the capital Seoul on Saturday (December 21), demanding his presidential duties to be reinstated after he was impeached nearly a week ago over a botched martial law decree.