South Korean leaders seek calm after president impeached

Lee Jae-myungopposition leader

The Democratic Party will actively cooperate with all parties to stabilize state affairs and restore international trust,

Lee said

What we have witnessed over the past two weeks is a testament to the fact that it is now impossible to regress the country to its authoritarian past,

said Bae Kang-hoon, co-founder of political think tank Valid

There is a red line drawn in the minds of the Korean people: That the country should never regress back to military rule,

Bae told AFP

This situation has provided the Korean people with an invaluable lesson on what democracy truly entails and how our democratic republic can be protected,

lawyer Yun Bok-nam, president of Lawyers for a Democratic Society, told AFP

Yoon's speech was basically him sending out the impeachment invitation letter... like: 'Please impeach me',

Kang Won-taek, political science professor at Seoul National University, said

For this popular will to translate into better government will require a wholesale review of the constitution and the system,

she said

Lee Jae-myungopposition leader

Individuals and institutions involved in this act of rebellion should fully cooperate with the investigations,

Lee said

The impeachment has been done in line with the people's demand and I hope a decision to dismiss Yoon Suk Yeol will come as soon as possible,

protester Kim Su-bong told the Associated Press

I will give all my strength and efforts to stabilise the government,

Han told reporters after the vote, Reuters reported

Although I am stopping for now, the journey I have walked with the people over the past two and a half years toward the future must never come to a halt. I will never give up,

Yoon said, Reuters reported

I am not loyal to any person, but loyal to the organization,

He famously stated ... a remark that solidified his name in the public's memory

I earnestly ask public servants this. At this moment, we have the critical task of ensuring normal and stable operations of state affairs ... I ask you to carry out your duties without any neglect to ensure that the government is operated without being shaken,

Han said in a televised statement

We have preserved the constitutional order!"

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered near the parliament roared in jubilation, waved banners and brandished colorful K-pop glow sticks, as a lead activist shouted on stage

I will carry with me all the criticisms, encouragement and support directed toward me, and I will continue to do my utmost for the country until the very last moment,

Yoon said

Isn't it amazing that we, the people, have pulled this off together?"

she told AFP

That is why we, as ruling party lawmakers, have decided to remove him ourselves,

he said

The future of South Korea lies within its people,

he said

He tried to massively shake up the political world,

Choi said

Mithra Jinkorean hip hop musician

President Yoon isn't well-prepared, and he does things off the cuff,

Choi Jin, director of the Seoul-based Institute of Presidential Leadership, said

I'm not loyal to [high-level] people."

At the time, he famously said