South Korea MPs vote to impeach president Yoon Suk Yeol

At 22:23 on 3 December, Yoon Suk Yeol began reading an emergency address to the nation, and at 22:27 declared martial law. He accused the opposition of being an "anti-state...den of criminals" and "trying to overthrow the free democracy" by impeaching members of his cabinet and blocking his budget plans.

Most often, martial law is declared in times of war or emergencies such as civil unrest and natural disasters. Alternatively, martial law may be declared in instances of military coups d'état.

After impeachment, the final decision on whether to remove the impeached from office rests with the Constitutional Court of Korea. By the Constitutional Court Act of 1988, the Constitutional Court must make a final decision within 180 days after it receives any case for adjudication, including impeachment cases.