SOUTH KOREA: OPPOSITION PARTY DEMANDS YOON TO STEP DOWN, SENIOR AIDES OFFER TO RESIGN EN MASSE

SEOUL, Dec 4 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Wednesday demanded President Yoon Suk Yeol to immediately step down as his surprise declaration of martial law was lifted after the National Assembly voted to reject it.

Yonhap news agency reported that during an emergency meeting of its lawmakers at the National Assembly, the DP announced that it will immediately begin the process for Yoon's impeachment unless he steps down on his own.

"Yoon's declaration of martial law is a clear violation of the Constitution," the DP said in its resolution, stressing that Yoon failed to comply with any of the requirements for declaring martial law.

"This is a serious act of rebellion and a perfect reason for impeachment," it said.

Separately, Yonhap citing the presidential office reported senior aides of Yoon, including his chief of staff, offered to resign en masse Wednesday.

They include Chung Jin-suk, the presidential chief of staff; National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik; and Sung Tae-yoon, chief of staff for policy, as well as seven other senior aides.

Meanwhile, Yoon has postponed a scheduled meeting this morning, which would have been his first public appearance since his declaration of martial law was lifted.

Yoon had been scheduled to convene the meeting on drug responses at the presidential office at 10 am (local time), but it was delayed, Yonhap reported a senior presidential official told reporters, without providing further details.

The decision came after Yoon lifted emergency martial law early Wednesday, six hours after he declared it in a surprise move, accusing the nation's opposition of "paralysing" the government with "anti-state" activities.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP