ANKARA

Protests continued for the second consecutive day on Thursday across the country, calling on President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down after his failed attempt to impose martial law.

Civic groups, mainly members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), one of the largest umbrella labor unions in the country, organized protests in Gyeryong and other parts of South Chungcheong province to press on their demand for Yoon's resignation, according to the Yonhap news agency.

Carrying banners engraved with slogans, such as "Nullification of illegal emergency martial law is victory for democracy" and "Immediately arrest treasonous criminal Yoon Suk Yeol and his accomplices," the protesters called on people to join their protests.

🪧Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the National Assembly building in Seoul, calling on President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down after his failed attempt to impose martial law https://t.co/v6lb7aC93o pic.twitter.com/hULVMIJMQH

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Rallies were also held in other regions, including North Jeolla and Gangwon province.

Several protests have also been planned in the central cities of Cheonan and Daejeon later in the day.

At a news conference in the central city of Chungju, eight local council members affiliated with the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) demanded that Yoon immediately step down.

They said Yoon's declaration of martial law "destroyed the spirit of the Constitution entirely."

They called the declaration a "challenge against the people" and an act that "unnerves the foundation of democracy."

'Country remains safe'

The South Korean government assured foreign diplomats based in Seoul that there is little impact from the botched martial law attempt and that the security situation in the country remains “stable.”

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said Thursday that a letter has been sent to foreign missions and embassies to highlight that the "country's economic foundations remain solid, as evidenced by the unchanged sovereign credit ratings by international rating appraisers, like S&P, and that there are no unusual developments in North Korea, while the security situation remains stable."

“As there is no impact on daily lives, tourism and the economy, we requested the missions report to their countries that adjustments to travel advisories for South Korea are not necessary," he added.