South Korean president survives impeachment vote

South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has survived an impeachment vote - prompted by his short-lived attempt to impose martial law - after members of his party boycotted the move.

- JABED AHMED

Only 195 votes were cast, which was below the 200 needed for the vote to count, and the motion was scrapped. The opposition needed at least eight votes from Mr Yoon’s conservative People Power Party (PPP) to reach the two-thirds majority needed to impeach. As PPP lawmakers departed after casting votes on a separate motion, some people shouted and cursed them. Only three from Mr Yoon’s party voted.

A crisis in South Korea exploded late on Tuesday when Mr Yoon declared he was imposing martial law, leading MPs to rush to parliament to stage a vote against it. Some climbed over walls and pushed past soldiers in order to cast their votes. The order was lifted by the cabinet before dawn on Wednesday.

Following the scrapped motion, the National Assembly speaker Woo Won Shik said it was unfortunate that not enough lawmakers participated for the votes to be tallied. He added: “The entire nation is watching the decision being made here at the National Assembly today. The world is watching.”