South Korea's opposition lawmakers have begun impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt to impose martial law, APA reports citing BBC.
The country woke up to an uncertain reality on Wednesday after a night of unprecedented scenes which saw Yoon unexpectedly impose martial law, 190 lawmakers gathering to vote it down, and a sudden reversal of the decision.
After tabling the impeachment motion, South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party condemned Yoon's initial martial law declaration as "insurrectionary behaviour".
Parliament will have to vote on whether to impeach Yoon by Saturday.
"We can no longer allow democracy to collapse. The lives and safety of the people must be protected," said Kim Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic party's central committee.
The Party also said it wants to charge Yoon with "crimes of rebellion".
It named Minister Kim Yong-hyun and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min as "key participants" of the martial law declaration, saying it also wanted them charged alongside Yoon.
Schools, banks and government offices in Seoul are operating as usual, but protests have continued throughout the city.
"Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol," some angry citizens chanted as they filled the streets.
South Korea's largest labour group, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, vowed on Wednesday to go on indefinite strike until the president steps down.
Wednesday's announcement comes after dramatic scenes overnight, which saw some opposition lawmakers break barricades and climb fences to get to the voting chamber.
Hundreds of troops stormed the parliament after Yoon declared martial law, as military helicopters circled the site.
Thousands of protesters arrived at the gates of the National Assembly, as 190 lawmakers evaded police lines and forced themselves inside to vote down the order.
His second announcement - that he was reversing his earlier order - was met with cheers from protesters outside South Korea's parliament.
On Wednesday, Yoon's senior aides, including chief of staff Chung Jin-suk and national security adviser Shin Won-sik, tendered their resignations. Whether their resignations will be accepted is unclear.
The presidential office has defended the initial decision to declare martial law as "strictly within [the country's] constitutional framework". It said on Wednesday that the annoucnement was timed to "minimise damage" to the economy and people's lives.
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