South Korea tests the limits of democracy

South Korean president Yoon Suk -yeol declared emergency martial law’ on 3 December .

The move was so outrageous that some labeled it a political suicide.

Yoon sent police, followed by soldiers, to shut down the National Assembly .

But in a mad race between legislators and special forces, the lawmakers, with the help of an incensed crowd, won.

The Assembly voted to revoke martial law hours after the president’s decree.

Yoon Suk-yeol was already unpopular and isolated before he declared martial law.

Yoon’s party boycotted the initial impeachment vote, but on 14 December let its members sit for another vote.

A dozen party members abandoned their leader, allowing the impeachment bill to pass by a vote of 204 to 85 .

Now, the constitutional court will review the constitutionality of the impeachment motion, a process that took three months the last time it happened.

South Korean president Yoon Suk -yeol declared emergency martial law’ on 3 December .