South Korean president faces impeachment vote as defence minister offers to resign

South Korean MPs have begun impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol after thwarting his shock move to impose martial law

The president had said martial law was needed to protect the country from “North Korea’s communist forces” and to “eliminate anti-state elements”

Though he cited North Korea, President Yoon’s decision was seen as a response to domestic pressure and a series of scandals

Less than two hours after his declaration, MPs forced their way into the National Assembly and voted to block his decision – some broke through barricades; the parliament’s speaker told the BBC he climbed over a wall

After the assembly vote, President Yoon announced he was reversing his martial law decision – MPs will now vote on his impeachment in the coming days

Yoon’s defence minister Kim Yong-hyun – said to be influential in the president’s martial law plan – offered his resignation on Wednesday

And a woman who stood before a soldier and grabbed his gun in parliament last night has told the BBC why she did it

This live page is now closed – our latest story is here, or read how the night unfolded