Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, delivers a statement urging ruling party lawmakers to vote for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment motion this week at the National Assembly, Dec. 13. Yonhap

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung urged ruling party lawmakers on Friday to vote in favor of a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed bid to impose martial law, saying that "history will remember" their decisions.

Lee of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) made the remark at the National Assembly, a day before the impeachment vote against Yoon is held, stressing that impeachment is the "fastest and surest way to end this chaos."

"Lawmakers, regardless of their political party or ideology, be it progressive or conservative, have a duty to respect the Constitution and follow the order of their sovereign," he said.

"What the lawmakers must protect is neither Yoon nor the ruling People Power Party but the lives of the people wailing out in the freezing streets," he added.

On Yoon's address, Lee called it a "lunatic declaration of war" to the people and accused Yoon of attempting to "cover up his crime with ugly lies." (Yonhap)