Anthony Kuhn

Ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon told reporters that an early and orderly departure for President Yoon Sung-yeol would minimize political instability. He said the prime minister and ruling party, and not Yoon, would handle state affairs until Yoon resigns. Han did not give a timeline or any legal basis for the move.

Ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon told reporters that an early and orderly departure for President Yoon Sung-yeol would minimize political instability. He said the prime minister and ruling party, and not Yoon, would handle state affairs until Yoon resigns. Han did not give a timeline or any legal basis for the move.

The main opposition party complained that nobody authorized the ruling party and prime minister to run the country, and their plan amounts to yet another insurrection. Meanwhile, prosecutors say they've booked Yoon as a suspect on charges of treason and abuse of power, and a special investigation is underway. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

The main opposition party complained that nobody authorized the ruling party and prime minister to run the country, and their plan amounts to yet another insurrection. Meanwhile, prosecutors say they've booked Yoon as a suspect on charges of treason and abuse of power, and a special investigation is underway. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

Hi, Alyssa.

Hi, Alyssa.

Hi, Alyssa.

Well, ruling party lawmakers, that's the president's party, boycotted the vote. So the parliament did not get a quorum of 200 out of 300 lawmakers. And although the opposition parties have a majority in parliament, they don't have a two-thirds majority, so they couldn't have a valid vote.

Well, ruling party lawmakers, that's the president's party, boycotted the vote. So the parliament did not get a quorum of 200 out of 300 lawmakers. And although the opposition parties have a majority in parliament, they don't have a two-thirds majority, so they couldn't have a valid vote.

Well, ruling party lawmakers, that's the president's party, boycotted the vote. So the parliament did not get a quorum of 200 out of 300 lawmakers. And although the opposition parties have a majority in parliament, they don't have a two-thirds majority, so they couldn't have a valid vote.

Opposition lawmakers say they're going to keep trying, keep submitting impeachment bills until one of them passes, but this one is pretty much finished.

Opposition lawmakers say they're going to keep trying, keep submitting impeachment bills until one of them passes, but this one is pretty much finished.

Opposition lawmakers say they're going to keep trying, keep submitting impeachment bills until one of them passes, but this one is pretty much finished.

I couldn't make it in. I was struggling to get through the massive crowds outside. Organizers estimated a million people there. Police put it at less than 150,000. It certainly reminded everybody of 2017 when there were huge protests and South Korea's first female president, Park Geun-hye, was impeached and later jailed on corruption charges.

I couldn't make it in. I was struggling to get through the massive crowds outside. Organizers estimated a million people there. Police put it at less than 150,000. It certainly reminded everybody of 2017 when there were huge protests and South Korea's first female president, Park Geun-hye, was impeached and later jailed on corruption charges.

I couldn't make it in. I was struggling to get through the massive crowds outside. Organizers estimated a million people there. Police put it at less than 150,000. It certainly reminded everybody of 2017 when there were huge protests and South Korea's first female president, Park Geun-hye, was impeached and later jailed on corruption charges.

Many of the people I spoke there with said they felt that they owed it to themselves and to their families and to history to be there. I spoke to a 60-year-old retired teacher named Lee In Son, and when she was a college student in the 1980s, students who protested against the then military government were often arrested, beaten, and tortured. And here's what she said.

Many of the people I spoke there with said they felt that they owed it to themselves and to their families and to history to be there. I spoke to a 60-year-old retired teacher named Lee In Son, and when she was a college student in the 1980s, students who protested against the then military government were often arrested, beaten, and tortured. And here's what she said.

Many of the people I spoke there with said they felt that they owed it to themselves and to their families and to history to be there. I spoke to a 60-year-old retired teacher named Lee In Son, and when she was a college student in the 1980s, students who protested against the then military government were often arrested, beaten, and tortured. And here's what she said.

She said, seeing martial law declared this week, all the nightmares from that time came back. I couldn't sleep and I was speechless for days. I became a teacher later and I think I've had a comfortable life since and the times have changed. But this feeling of returning to the 80s, the rage was unbearable.