Hundreds of protesters in Seoul called for the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol after he attempted to impose martial law to squelch his critics. For the South Koreans, the political drama is a chilling reminder of that nation’s not so distant authoritarian past.

South Korean lawmakers on Wednesday called for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law only to reverse the move hours later, triggering the biggest political crisis in decades in Asia's fourth-largest economy.

South Korean lawmakers began impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol after he briefly imposed martial law and then reversed course on that decision just hours later. Yoon claimed martial law was necessary to protect the country from "North Korea's communist forces" and to "eliminate anti-state elements.