Martial Law Lifted In South Korea Hours After It Was Imposed As Parliament Votes Against

Last Updated:December 04, 2024, 07:37 IST

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol had accused the opposition of colluding with communist North Korean forces.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol declares martial law, leading to widespread outrage and protests. (Reuters)

South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday said he would lift a surprise martial law declaration hours after it was imposed following a standoff with lawmakers as the parliament voted to reject his controversial decision to ban political activity.

President Yoon shocked the nation on Tuesday by declaring an “emergency martial law“, accusing the country’s opposition of destabilising governance by controlling the parliament, sympathising with North Korea and promoting “anti-state" activities. His decision was immediately denounced by the opposition Democratic Party and the leader of Yoon’s own Conservative Party.

Under martial law, Yoon sought to ban protests and activity by parliament and political parties, while placing the media under government control. Protesters outraged by Yoon’s decision gathered outside the Parliament as South Korean troops clashed with the demonstrators to prevent them from entering the Assembly premises, in one of the country’s biggest political crises in decades.

However, the Parliament acted swiftly after the martial law declaration, as 190 lawmakers voted against the move. Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declared that the law was “invalid" and that lawmakers would “protect democracy with the people." The declaration was formally lifted around 4:30 am (local time) after a Cabinet meeting.

President Yoon Likely To Be Impeached

As police and military personnel left the Parliament premises following the bipartisan vote to overrule the martial law declaration, protesters outside the Assembly cheered and clapped, chanting, “We won!"

However, troubles are likely to mount for the President, as the opposition Democratic Party called for Yoon to either resign or face impeachment. “President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration was a clear violation of the constitution. It didn’t abide by any requirements to declare it," the Democratic Party said in a statement. “His martial law declaration was originally invalid and a grave violation of the constitution. It was a grave act of rebellion and provides perfect grounds for his impeachment."

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The Democratic Party controls the majority of the 300-member Parliament, Yoon — whose approval rating has dipped in recent months — has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022.

Moreover, his conservative People Power Party had been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition Democratic Party over next year’s budget bill. He has also been dismissing calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals.

If Yoon is impeached, he will be stripped of his constitutional powers until the Constitutional Court can rule on his fate. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the No. 2 position in the South Korean government, is expected to take over his presidential responsibilities.

The leader of Yoon’s party Han Dong-hoon apologised to the public in a statement after the martial law declaration and called for the defence minister to be fired. “The president must directly and thoroughly explain this tragic situation," he said. Yoon has not made any comment about the opposition’s push for impeachment.

US ‘Relieved’ After Yoon’s Reversal

Meanwhile, the United States, one of Seoul’s allies in the region, said it was pleased Yoon had backed down after his shocking declaration. “We are relieved President Yoon has reversed course on his concerning declaration of martial law and respected the… Assembly’s vote to end it," a White House spokesperson said.

Earlier, the US State Department said it was watching the developments in South Korea with “grave concern". “We are seeking to engage with our Republic of Korea counterparts at every level here in the United States and in Seoul," said spokesperson Vedang Patel, adding that Washington hoped for a peaceful resolution to the political dispute in accordance with the rule of law.

The last time a South Korean president declared martial law was President Choi Kyu-hah in 1980, during a nationwide uprising led by students and labour unions. However, such a move was not seen after it became a genuine democracy in the late 1980s. Some 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea to guard against the nuclear-armed North.

According to South Korea’s constitution, the president can only declare martial law during “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states" that require the use of military force to maintain peace and order.

(with inputs from agencies)

Seoul, South Korea

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