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South Korean leader's power grab backfires as parliament plans crucial vote

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South Korean President faces removal from office after failed attempt to declare martial law this week. Multiple agencies start probes while protesters gather and his own party turns against him

President Yoon Suk Yeol plans to speak to his nation on sat morning‚ as his political future hangs by a thread after a short-lived martial-law declaration (which lasted only 6 hrs before being cancelled)

The crisis started when Yoon tried to get extra-ordinary powers to deal with what he called anti-state elements: his move didnt work because parliament members got past military-police blockades and voted no

His own political group the Peoples Power Party seems split — its leader thinks Yoon is bad for the country but the party still dont support impeachment officially. Some party-members want him to step down before the vote happens

  • Police started investigations
  • Anti-corruption office launched a probe
  • Prosecutors office began looking into charges

Thousands of candle-holding protesters gathered near parliament on fri night; more people will come before saturdays vote (just like during ex-president Park Geun-hyeʼs removal about 8 years ago)

The whole thing reminds many of Parkʼs case: she had to leave after big protests‚ which made her party fall apart — some PPP members worry this might happen again. Legal teams are now checking if Yoon broke laws about power abuse; insurrection

Ethan Caldwell

Politics

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