Martial law was lifted in South Korea, a few hours after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared “emergency martial law” on Tuesday night, December 3.
His declaration of martial law was unanimously rejected by 190 lawmakers in parliament. According to South Korean law, the president must comply with the Assembly’s decision. His own party also urged him to lift the decree.
Photo: REUTERS/Kim Hong-ji
Yoon said he imposed martial law to eliminate pro-North Korean anti-state forces, claiming that the country’s main opposition, Democratic Party is sympathizing with North Korea and anti-state activities.
Less than three hours later, the parliament took action, with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik declaring the martial law “invalid.” It was officially lifted at around 4:30 am.
“I declared martial law at 11 o’clock last night with a firm will to save the country against anti-state forces that are trying to paralyze the essential functions of the state and destroy the constitutional order of liberal democracy,” Yoon stated.
“However, a little while ago, the National Assembly demanded the lifting of martial law, so the troops deployed for martial law affairs were withdrawn.”
According to reports, the main opposition Democratic Party has called for Yoon, who has been in office since 2022, to either resign or face impeachment.
The last time South Korea was placed under martial law was in 1980.
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