President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law, then backed off, in a matter of hours. He now faces impeachment and mass protests.

The opposition-controlled parliament overturned the the martial law edict, and his rivals on Wednesday took steps to impeach him.

South Korean lawmakers began impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol after he briefly imposed martial law and then reversed course on that decision just hours later. Yoon claimed martial law was necessary to protect the country from "North Korea's communist forces" and to "eliminate anti-state elements.

At his confirmation hearing three months ago, South Korea's defence minister Kim Yong-hyun rejected accusations from the opposition that he wanted to impose martial law. It was, the conservative hardliner said,

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the nation in a televised address, declaring martial law and calling in troops to secure the National Assembly building where parliament sits

The United States was not aware of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's intention to declare martial law, U.S. Secretary State Antony Blinken told Reuters on Wednesday, adding that he was anticipating speaking with his South Korean counterpart in the coming days.