Protesters hold a massive rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Saturday, to urge lawmakers to vote for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law. Newsis

Tens of thousands of Koreans from all walks of life protested all day long in front of the National Assembly in Seoul on Saturday, demanding lawmakers vote for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law.

Even after the Assembly's failure to pass the motion, people remained determined to return next week and the week after to remove him from office.

As of 5 p.m. on Saturday, the eight-lane road in front of the Assembly was already packed with people heavily layered in padded jackets and winter gear, shouting, "Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol," braving subzero temperatures.

Due to the large crowd, the subway did not stop at National Assembly Station and Yeouido Station on Line 9, and the road in front of the Assembly was closed to traffic. The 1.5-kilometer road from Yeouido Station to the Assembly's main gate was flooded with colorful lights.

Many who attended the protest told The Korea Times that the president's two-minute public apology that aired earlier that day fanned their anger further and led them to join the rally.

Protesters join a massive rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Saturday, calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law. Korea Times photo by Park Simon

"I was aware of the protest but had no intention to attend it. I was doing the laundry when I saw the news, and I couldn't stand how ridiculous the statement sounded. I joined the protest because I couldn't just stand by as a citizen of the Republic of Korea, and I didn't want to be ashamed of myself," Choi, 37, said.

Calls for Yoon's resignation echoed across Yeouido, Korea's financial and political hub.

"I came here determined to stay up all night. I will be in front of the National Assembly until the impeachment motion passes," Khoo, 26, said.

Some people participated in the rally as a family.

"When I first heard the news (about the martial law), I thought it was fake news. When I heard the helicopter moving around, my kids started crying," Lee, a 32-year-old from Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, said. "That's why I joined the rally with my family."

People's anger reached its peak as members of the ruling People Power Party left the Assembly chamber en masse, boycotting the impeachment vote.

"I don't know whose idea it was, but it's the worst idea ever to leave without voting like that. The entire nation is watching all of them in real time, yet they turned against the people and left. This is where martial forces came to catch you guys with guns just a few days ago," Kim, 22, said.

Protesters are shocked during a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Saturday, as the ruling People Power Party lawmakers' boycott scraps the Assembly's motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. Newsis

As Rep. Park Chan-dae of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea called out the names of the 108 ruling party lawmakers who boycotted and walked out of the Assembly chamber, protesters at the candlelight rally also shouted their names, urging them to return.

At around 9:26 p.m., Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik announced that the motion was scrapped without a ballot count, as it fell short of the required quorum of 200 votes out of 300 seats, amid bursts of outrage and sighs from lawmakers.

"It is devastating and heartbreaking," Cho, 25, said. "Of course, Yoon's declaration of martial law was shocking, but the fact that the lawmakers refused to vote as a group is also as shocking. I feel disgusted. The People Power Party must be dissolved, and I will never forget or forgive those lawmakers until I die."

Although the impeachment motion was scrapped, people remained determined to continue to hold street rallies until Yoon is ousted.

Park, 32, said she will keep coming out next week and the week after next until Yoon gets impeached. "This is just beginning. Let's see who wins. We know impeachment is a long-term war," she said, referring to the monthslong candlelight rallies of 2016 that led former President Park Geun-hye to step down.

Protesters hold lights of all colors during a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Saturday, to urge lawmakers to vote for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul