Lawmakers announced plans for a weekend impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk Yeol, currently under police investigation following a brief, controversial declaration of martial law.

President Yoon accused the opposition of “anti-state” activities when imposing martial law on Tuesday, aiming to suppress political dissent and seize control of the media. This action, however, lasted only about six hours before the National Assembly overturned the decision.

The president’s actions sparked widespread protests and concern among South Korea’s international allies, including the United States. Following the incident, Yoon’s defense minister, who advocated for the martial law declaration, resigned, as reported by Reuters.

A spokesperson for the ruling Democratic Party informed reporters that the impeachment vote is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time on Saturday. The Democratic Party holds a legislative majority.

“The Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s declaration of emergency martial law caused widespread confusion and fear among our citizens,” stated Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won in the National Assembly, according to Reuters.

Impeachment requires a two-thirds majority (200 votes) in the 300-member parliament. Opposition parties collectively hold 192 seats. Notably, 18 lawmakers from Yoon’s ruling People Power Party voted against the president’s martial law declaration during the 190-0 parliamentary rejection.

The leader of the People Power Party, Han Dong-hun, condemned Yoon’s martial law declaration as “unconstitutional,” but the party has declared its opposition to impeachment.

If impeached, President Yoon would be temporarily stripped of his constitutional powers pending a Constitutional Court ruling. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would assume presidential duties in the interim.

Amidst his uncertain political future, President Yoon accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on Thursday. Minister Kim had advised the president to declare martial law due to obstacles faced in the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

Kim is now under investigation by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, facing potential treason charges, as reported by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. He is also subject to a travel ban.

Police are also investigating President Yoon on treason charges following a complaint filed by activists and a minor opposition party, according to Yonhap. The complaint names President Yoon, Minister Kim, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su, and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, alleging treason and related offenses related to their roles in the martial law declaration.

President Yoon faces mounting pressure to resign before Saturday’s impeachment vote.

On Wednesday, a U.S. official told Reuters that the United States had not been informed beforehand of Yoon’s declaration, with his deputy, Kurt Campbell, stating that Yoon had severely misjudged the situation.

The United States maintains a military presence of 28,500 servicemembers in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Yoon’s martial law declaration was unprecedented in over 40 years. Scenes of military intervention of this nature have not been witnessed since South Korea’s transition to genuine democracy in the late 1980s.