South Korean President Yoon’s political implosion from martial law to impeachment By Reuters

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and suspended from official duties on Saturday, ending an 11-day political crisis that shook his country and was sparked by his surprise decision to impose martial law.

Here are the important events from martial law to dismissal:

-December. Shortly before 3:22:30 (13:30 GMT), Yoon announced on national television that he was declaring martial law to root out “anti-state forces” and break the political deadlock.

An hour later, the military issues a decree banning the activities of political parties and MPs, and soldiers and police attack the opposition-controlled parliament. Staff are using barricades and fire extinguishers to block special operations soldiers who arrived by helicopter and broke windows as they entered parliament.

MPs are jumping over fences to avoid security cordons and crowds of protesters are gathering.

-December. 4: Ignoring the army’s order, 190 MPs voted unanimously to reject Yoon’s declaration in the early hours, and the soldiers began to leave.

About three and a half hours later, Yoon made another televised speech, announcing that he would lift martial law. The decree remained in effect for approximately six hours.

Opposition parties submit a motion to dismiss Yoon.

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said Yoon “badly judged” Yoon’s decision to declare martial law, saying it was “highly problematic” and “illegitimate”.

-December. 5: Yoon’s People Power Party, although divided, decides to oppose his impeachment.

Yoon accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Police are investigating Yoon, Kim and the interior minister on charges of treason and related crimes related to the declaration of martial law after opposition parties and activists filed complaints.

-December. 6: PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said Yoon should be removed from power for trying to impose martial law. Some party members are calling for Yoon to resign.

-December. 7: Yoon called out to apologize to the nation and said that he would leave his fate in the hands of the PPP, but did not say that he would resign.

Due to a boycott by the PPP, the vote to impeach Yoon fails, leaving the parliament without a quorum.

-December. 8: Prosecutors name Yoon as the subject of a criminal investigation into the attempted martial law. Former Defense Minister Kim was arrested.

-December. 9: The justice ministry bans Yoon from leaving South Korea.

-December. 10: Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun tells a parliamentary committee that Yoon ordered to “drag” lawmakers out of parliament after declaring martial law.

Yoon’s office says the PPP has “no official position” on who is running the country, amid questions about discussions about forming an interim government.

Former Defense Minister Kim attempted suicide.

-December. 11: Police try to search Yoon’s office but are prevented from entering the building.

-December. 12: In another televised speech, Yoon says he will “fight to the end”, claiming North Korea hacked South Korea’s election commission, and expresses doubts about his party’s crushing election defeat in April. The National Election Commission denies the claim.

Seven PPP members announced their intention to support impeachment, one short of the number needed to pass the motion.

-December. 13: Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung urges PPP members to “participate and vote yes for impeachment.”

-December. 14: Parliament impeaches Yoon with the support of 204 of 300 MPs in the unicameral parliament. At least 12 PPP members vote for impeachment.

Yoon’s presidential powers are suspended and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo becomes acting president.

The Constitutional Court received the parliament’s declaration of impeachment. He will have six months to decide whether he will be removed from office or reinstated.