South Korea’s president has been accused of ordering the use of weapons to stop a martial law vote

Prosecutors say South Korea’s ousted president ordered the military to use weapons in an attempt to force lawmakers out of parliament while they voted against his martial law decree.

On Dec. 3, Yoon Suk-yeol allowed the military to “break down doors and drag them (politicians) out, even if it means firing guns,” according to an indictment in the impeachment proceedings against him.

The orders are said to have been given to the general accused of blocking the National Assembly during Yun’s brief declaration of martial law, which was rejected by MPs after 190 people were able to enter the building.

Yun’s cabinet later revoked his decree, and lawmakers subsequently voted to impeach him.

South Korea’s impeachment process means Yoon has been suspended from his duties while the constitutional court decides whether to uphold his impeachment. If that happens, he will be permanently suspended.

His decision to declare martial law – which he claimed at the time was to confront “anti-state forces” in parliament – was seen by some as an attempt to break a political deadlock after the opposition won a landslide in April.

After his late-night speech in which he announced the decree, opposition MPs and protesters gathered at the National Assembly, only to be met by police and soldiers who barricaded the building.

When the deputies were able to force entryProsecutors say Yoon told the head of the Capital Defense Command, Lee Jin-woo, that military forces could fire if necessary to enter the National Assembly.

“Tell (your troops) to go to the voting chamber, four for each (legislator) and enforce them,” Yun allegedly told General Lee.

“What are you doing? Break the door and pull out.”

After lawmakers voted to lift martial law, Yoon told General Lee to “go ahead” because he could declare martial law multiple times, the indictment said.

Prosecutors say the indictment draws evidence from former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who was also indicted on Friday for allegedly telling Gen Lee to follow Yoon’s orders several times on Dec. 3.

He also allegedly ordered commanders to seize the National Election Commission building and arrest its staff using cable ties, eye masks, ropes, baseball bats and hammers that were prepared by the military.

Kim will be held in custody pending trial, according to a press release from investigative bodies.

The martial law decree plunged South Korea into weeks of political turmoil.

Opposition politicians immediately called Yun’s statement illegal and unconstitutional. The leader of his own party – the conservative People’s Power Party – also called out Yun’s act “wrong step”.

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was also indicted on Friday, according to the special investigation headquarters of the country’s prosecutor’s office.

On the same day, the National Assembly also voted for impeachment acting president Han Dak-soo.

Khan was supposed to lead the country out of political instability, but opposition lawmakers claimed he was abandoning demands to complete Yun’s impeachment process.

He agreed to step down, meaning that the country’s finance minister, Choi Sang Mok, will become acting president.

Thousands of protesters held rival rallies in South Korea, some demanding Yun’s arrest.

Attending a protest in Seoul on Saturday, Kwon Jung-hee told the BBC that Khan’s impeachment felt like climbing “one small mountain”.

“But there are still too many mountains to climb, so I can’t just stay at home – I came out with the mindset of protecting the country,” she said.

Political uncertainty has also affected the economy.

The currency has fallen to its lowest level since the global financial crisis 16 years ago.