Public calls for President Yoon Suk Yeol to resign continued nationwide for the second day on Thursday following his unexpected declaration of martial law late Tuesday.

Civic and labor groups are set to stage candlelight rallies around the country Thursday night.

An alliance of groups fighting for Yoon's resignation, led by the umbrella labor union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions(KCTU), gathered for their cause in downtown Seoul as well as throughout the central province of South Chungcheong earlier Thursday.

The participants urged members of the general public to join the collective action to oust the president, accusing him of treason.

Civic groups in Incheon held a press conference in the afternoon, denouncing the ruling People Power Party(PPP) for adopting a party platform to oppose a parliamentary motion seeking to impeach the president.

In the southwestern city of Gwangju, considered the cradle of the nation's democracy, a rally involving 86 groups will be held for the second straight day to hold the government to account for the president's declaring and lifting of martial law.