South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is one step closer to losing his job, as the country's constitutional court begins trial proceedings to decide on his removal from office. Yoon's declaration of martial law sparked popular outrage across South Korea, with his own People Power Party having since turned against him.
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00:00This was the moment news broke that South Korean President Yoon Suk-kyo had been impeached,
00:1011 days after he imposed martial law, and protesters took to the streets calling for
00:15his resignation.
00:42Last week, the ruling party had abstained from an impeachment vote, ensuring its defeat.
00:45But as the president remained defiant, members of his own People Power Party tipped the balance
00:51in a second round of voting, and colleagues openly abandoned him.
01:12It's a major fall from grace for President Yoon, who ascended to power fighting corruption.
01:17His martial law imposition was short-lived, as opposition lawmakers broke through police
01:21lines and assembled in parliament to vote it down.
01:24Yoon said his declaration was an attempt to break the political deadlock in parliament,
01:29as opposition lawmakers blocked his party's legislation and political agenda.
01:34The conservative leader also cited North Korean threats, Pyongyang responding to the impeachment
01:40The president has lost his powers, and the prime minister has taken charge, looking to
01:51restore faith in a system that is now tarnished.
01:55And as investigators from the prosecutor's office seek answers over his failed martial
01:59law bid, Yoon has rebuffed requests.
02:02He's been given until the end of the week to appear for questioning or face the possibility
02:06of arrest.
02:09But the matter is not yet closed.
02:11It's now with the constitutional court, where Yoon can fight to remain in office.
02:25The court has 180 days to decide to reinstate the president or uphold the impeachment, based
02:30on the martial law's constitutionality.
02:42Lawyers believe the constitutional court will move through the case quickly, to allow the
02:46government to resume work.
02:51If the impeachment is upheld, it would trigger a 60-day countdown to new elections.
02:59Either way, for these people who have spent over a week protesting against their leader,
03:04these developments are a much-needed victory to restore faith in the country's democratic
03:08political system.
03:10Dolphin Chen and Rosie Greninger for Taiwan Plus.