Seoul: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been temporarily suspended from office after parliament voted to impeach him over his controversial attempt to declare martial law earlier this month.

In a vote held Saturday, 204 out of 300 lawmakers supported the impeachment motion, citing allegations of insurrection. The decision came amidst weeks of political tension and widespread public demonstrations both supporting and opposing Yoon.

The impeachment has now been sent to the Constitutional Court, which has 180 days to deliberate. During this time, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will serve as interim leader. If the court upholds the decision, Yoon will become South Korea’s second president to be removed from office through impeachment.

President Yoon, who addressed the nation after the vote, stated he would "step aside" but did not offer an apology for the martial law attempt.

Public opinion appears to favor the impeachment, with a recent Gallup Korea poll showing 75% of respondents in support of the parliamentary decision. Yoon's approval rating has fallen to 11%, reflecting the growing discontent.

Protests in Seoul drew massive crowds, with 200,000 demonstrators advocating for Yoon’s removal and 30,000 rallying in his defense. Opposition leaders hailed the impeachment as a "victory for democracy," while Yoon's supporters argued his actions were justified.

The Constitutional Court’s decision, requiring unanimity from its six judges, will be closely watched as it could have far-reaching implications for South Korea’s democratic and constitutional framework.