Disappointment mounts following failed impeachment motion against S. Korean president

The road in front of the main gate of the National Assembly building was packed with rally crowds, as 200,000 people reportedly took to the street, chanting slogans.

SEOUL, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Despite bitter cold winds, large crowds of people have gathered around the National Assembly in Seoul, capital of South Korea, since early morning of Saturday, the day of an impeachment motion vote against President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Holding up banners reading "Reject Yoon Suk-yeol," "Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol who is guilty of treason," the crowds demanded immediate resignation of Yoon, who declared an emergency martial law Tuesday night before repealing it early Wednesday as the parliament voted against it.

"This has nothing to do with political camps or partisanship, but a matter of common sense. I hope the lawmakers can understand the people's will and make correct judgments," Yoo Hwa-jeong, who traveled to the capital from Cheonan in South Chungcheong province, told Xinhua.

The road in front of the main gate of the National Assembly building was packed with rally crowds, as 200,000 people reportedly took to the street, chanting slogans.

The parliament held a plenary session as scheduled at 5:00 p.m. local time. After voting against a bill to investigate scandals involving Yoon's wife, most of the 108 ruling party lawmakers left the parliament hall. One ruling party lawmaker remained at the hall and two came back after leaving.

Lawmakers of the opposition parties, including the main liberal Democratic Party, named the ruling party lawmakers one by one in unison, calling on them to come back and cast ballots.

More than 200 lawmakers are required to vote yes to pass the impeachment motion.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik ended the voting process about three hours after waiting for the ruling party lawmakers, announcing the impeachment motion was scrapped on lack of quorum.

Outside the parliament building, disappointment and frustration grew as the crowds at the news began to slowly disperse.

"We would not give up," Jeong Myeong-sik, a Seoul resident, told Xinhua. "I believe our continuous efforts will make a difference. It is only a matter of time to impeach the president."■