South Korea's president survives impeachment after ruling party lawmakers boycott vote

SEOUL and LONDON -- South Korea's embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided impeachment on Saturday after members of the ruling party walked out before the vote began.

As lawmakers debated a motion to impeach Yoon over his declaration of martial law on Tuesday, all but two members of his own People Power Party walked out of the National Assembly session even before voting began Saturday evening.

This means the motion, jointly proposed by the opposition parties that control 192 of the South Korean legislature's 300 seats, will likely not reach the required 200 votes -- including at least eight votes from the ruling party -- to pass, as the numbers don't seem to be there for the motion to pass.

Opposition leaders have said that if the bill fails, they plan to revisit it again on Wednesday.

Opposition lawmakers were seated at the session waiting for ruling party members to return to the chamber, as they need five more votes to pass the impeachment bill.

Thousands of protesters calling for Yoon's impeachment, as well as those who are against the effort, were gathered in two different locations in Seoul. These rallies, filled with chants, music and group dances, appeared to be peaceful.

Earlier Saturday, Yoon apologized to the nation in a brief televised address, saying his declaration of martial law was made out of "depression." He "sincerely apologized" for the "anxiety and inconvenience" that it may have caused and promised not to make another attempt to impose martial law.