S. Korea's opposition parties submit 2nd impeachment motion against President Yoon

South Korea's main liberal opposition Democratic Party and five other minor parties on Thursday submitted a second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol over his martial law declaration after the first one was scrapped last Saturday as the ruling People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers boycotted a vote.

The opposition bloc planned to report the motion to a plenary session of the National Assembly on Friday and put it up for a vote at 5:00 p.m. local time on Saturday.

Under the constitution, at least two-thirds of the 300 National Assembly lawmakers are required to vote in favor of passing an impeachment motion. If the motion is passed, the constitutional court will deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power will be suspended.

Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of December 3, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.

The embattled president said earlier in the day that his martial law imposition aimed to protect against the "legislative dictatorship" of the majority opposition.

Defending his short-lived martial law declaration, which drew widespread calls for his resignation, Yoon said in a televised address the move was legal and he's not trying to destroy the constitution.

"I will fight to the end," Yoon said near the end of his televised speech.

But the second impeachment vote is looking less likely to be in Yoon's favor as the leader of his own party, Han Dong-hoon, urged party members to vote for impeachment on Saturday.

(With input from Xinhua)