Tens of thousands of its citizens South Korea are expected to take to the streets today to demand that parliament fire the country’s president Yun Seok-gilafter the fiasco of 3 December when he attempted to declare martial law, a measure he was forced to withdraw six hours later.

Mass demonstrations are being organized in all major cities, demanding that members of South Korea’s national delegation say yes to the opposition’s second attempt to oust the president, the national Yonhap news agency reported.

Mr. Yun narrowly escaped impeachment on November 7 when Han Dong-hun’s party leader Han Dong-hun decided to change his stance, and despite initially saying the People’s Power Party would support the Democratic Party’s proposal, he backtracked and his lawmakers abstained. voting, as a result of which the required majority is not secured.

However this week, Mr. Khan has come out even more clearly in favor of a pause for the head of state, who remains adamant and defends his decision to declare martial law. In a speech on Thursday, he insisted on characterizing the opposition as an “anti-state” force that threatens “liberal democracy” and is linked to the communist threat from the north.

Seven members of his party have publicly expressed their intention to vote to impeach the president — eight are needed. The opposition has 192 seats out of 300 in the body and needs a two-thirds majority, in other words 200 votes, to end the term of the 63-year-old head of state. If he succeeds, he will be the second president to be so lucky.

According to a Gallup poll released yesterday, the popularity of Mr. Yun, a former prosecutor turned political star, has fallen to 11 percent — an all-time low — and 75 percent of citizens want him impeached.

The vote is expected to take place at 16:00 (09:00 Greek time).