Six opposition parties in South Korea jointly submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday after his declaration of martial law was lifted in the early hours of the same day.

The impeachment case will be submitted to the National Assembly in the afternoon of the same day, according to China Central Television (CCTV). It is reported that the impeachment case will be formally presented to the National Assembly on Thursday, and it is expected to be voted on from Friday to Saturday.

Previously, South Korea's emergency martial law, declared by President Yoon Tuesday night, was lifted early Wednesday at a cabinet meeting after the parliament voted against it, about six hours after the declaration.

South Korea's main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), announced on Wednesday that it would file charges of treason against Yoon, the defense and interior ministers, and push for impeachment, according to CCTV. 

After the resolution to revoke the emergency martial law was passed, lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties who participated in the vote applauded and cheered in unison in the early hours of Wednesday, and the scene of the leaders of the two major political parties shaking hands and talking at the site was captured in photos, according to The Chosun Ilbo.

Senior aides of President Yoon, including his chief of staff, offered to resign en masse Wednesday, the presidential office said, after the National Assembly blocked Yoon's surprise declaration of martial law, according to the Korea Times.

South Korea's Prime Minister Han Duck-soo vowed Wednesday to continue to serve the people after a martial law order was lifted overnight. "I understand the people's anxiety is great," the prime minister said, claiming a strong sense of responsibility for the "entire process" leading up to the current situation, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency.

"I ask the Cabinet to fulfill your responsibility together with the public officials of all ministries to ensure the people's safety and everyday lives are maintained without the slightest wavering," Han continued, according to the report.

Besides, civic groups gathered in Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on Wednesday to denounce President Yoon's short-lived declaration of martial law and demand the impeachment of his administration, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

Among them, South Korea's most powerful labor union, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, has declared an indefinite general strike, demanding the immediate resignation of Yoon, which is in response to his declaration of martial law late last night, a move the union has fiercely criticized as unconstitutional and undemocratic, as reported by The Korea Herald on Wednesday.

Global Times