SEOUL (AFP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol apologized but stopped short of resigning Saturday over his declaration of martial law, as protesters gathered outside parliament ahead of a crucial impeachment vote that could decide his political fate.

Yoon stunned the nation and the international community Tuesday night by imposing martial law for the first time in over four decades and deploying troops and helicopters to parliament.

But lawmakers managed to vote down the decree, forcing Yoon to rescind the order in the early hours of Wednesday in a night of extraordinary drama for a country assumed to be a stable democracy.

“The declaration of martial law arose from my desperation as president,” he said in a televised address, the first time he has appeared before the public since plunging the country into political chaos.

“I caused anxiety and inconvenience to the public. I sincerely apologize,” he said.