Following a dramatic night in which troops surrounded parliament and MPs voted to reject military control, the South Korean president bowed to political pressure and removed martial law that he had imposed on the nation hours earlier on Wednesday.
As he fights against opponents who control parliament and whom he accuses of having sympathies with communist North Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol, who seemed likely to be impeached for his actions, declared martial law late Tuesday in retaliation against the opposition. He also vowed to eradicate anti-state forces.
After the bipartisan decision to overrule the president, police and military troops were observed leaving the parliament grounds, and the declaration was formally withdrawn during a Cabinet meeting at 4:30 a.m.
Following the declaration of martial law, Parliament moved quickly, with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik stating that the law was unconstitutional and that parliamentarians will defend democracy with the populace.
Martial law lasted almost six hours in total.
At a bus station in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, people watch a TV screen that broadcasts South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s televised briefing.Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo
The opposition and the head of Yoon’s own conservative party swiftly condemned the president’s unexpected action, which harked back to an authoritarian era the nation has not experienced since the 1980s.
The liberal Democratic Party, which controls the majority in the 300-seat parliament, is led by Lee Jae-myung. He stated that the party’s lawmakers will stay in the Assembly’s main chamber until Yoon formally revoked his directive.
Woo praised the troops’ prompt departure from the Assembly following the vote.
Our citizens have undoubtedly seen today’s events and witnessed the maturity of our military, despite our regrettable recollections of military takeovers, Woo remarked.
Yoon continued to attack parliament’s efforts to remove leading prosecutors and important government officials while announcing his intention to end martial law. He claimed that dishonest legislative and budgetary manipulation by lawmakers was impeding the state’s ability to function.
Democratic senator Jo Seung-lae asserted that security camera footage after Yoon’s declaration revealed that military appeared to be attempting to arrest Lee, Woo, and even Yoon’s People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon.
Early on Wednesday, inquiries for response from the Defense Ministry and Yoon’s office were not answered.
On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea, police officers stand watch in front of the National Assembly as people attempt to enter.Photo by Lee Jin-man/AP
Hundreds of demonstrators appeared in front of the Assembly, chanting for Yoon’s impeachment and brandishing placards.
Some protesters scuffled with troops ahead of the lawmakers vote, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or major property damage. At least one window was broken as troops attempted to enter the Assembly building. One woman tried unsuccessfully to pull a rifle away from one of the soldiers, while shouting Aren t you embarrassed?
Under South Korea s constitution, the president can 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. It was questionable whether South Korea is currently in such a state.
When martial law is declared, special measures can be employed to restrict freedom of press, freedom of assembly and other rights, as well as the power of courts.
The constitution also states that the president must oblige when the National Assembly demands the lifting of martial law with a majority vote.
A helicopter flies over the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.Photo by Lee Jin-man/AP
Following Yoon s announcement of martial law, South Korea s military proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause social confusion would be suspended, South Korea s Yonhap news agency said. The military said anyone who violated the decree could be arrested without a warrant.
In Washington, the White House said the U.S. was seriously concerned by the events in Seoul. A spokesperson for the National Security Council said President Joe Biden s administration was not notified in advance of the martial law announcement and was in contact with the South Korean government.
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said there was no effect on the more than 27,000 U.S. service members based in South Korea.
The South Korean military also said that the country s striking doctors should return to work within 48 hours, Yonhap said. Thousands of doctors have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical schools.
Soon after martial law was declared, the parliament speaker called on his YouTube channel for all lawmakers to gather at the National Assembly. He urged military and law enforcement personnel to remain calm and hold their positions.
All 190 lawmakers who participated in the vote supported the lifting of martial law.
At one point, television footage showed police officers blocking the entrance of the National Assembly and helmeted soldiers carrying rifles in front of the building. An Associated Press photographer saw at least three helicopters, likely from the military, that landed inside the Assembly grounds, while two or three helicopters circled above the site.
The leader of Yoon s conservative party called the decision to impose martial law wrong. Lee, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, said Yoon s announcement was illegal and unconstitutional.
Yoon said during a televised speech that martial law would help rebuild and protect the country from falling into the depths of national ruin. He said he would eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.
I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country, he said, while asking the people to believe in him and tolerate some inconveniences.
Yoon whose approval rating dipped in recent months has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022.
His party has been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition over next year s budget bill. The opposition has also attempted to impeach three top prosecutors, including the chief of the central Seoul prosecutors office, in what the conservatives have called a vendetta against their criminal investigations of Lee, who has been seen as the favorite for the next presidential election in 2027 in opinion polls.
During his televised announcement, Yoon also described the opposition as shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our citizens. He did not elaborate.
Yoon has taken a hard line on North Korea over its nuclear ambitions, departing from the policies of his liberal predecessor, Moon Jae-in, who pursued inter-Korean engagement.
Yoon has also dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals.
Yoon s move was the first declaration of martial law since the country s democratization in 1987. The country s last previous martial law was in October 1979, following the assassination of former military dictator Park Chung-hee.
Sydney Seiler, Korean chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, argued that the move was symbolic for Yoon to express his frustration with the opposition-controlled parliament.
He has nothing to lose, said Seiler, comparing Yoon s move to the Hail Mary pass in American football, with a slim chance of success.
Now Yoon faces likely impeachment, a scenario that was also possible before he made the bold move, Seiler said.
Natalia Slavney, research analyst at the Stimson Center s 38 North website that focuses on Korean affairs, said Yoon s imposition of martial law was a serious backslide of democracy that followed a worrying trend of abuse since he took office in 2022.
South Korea has a robust history of political pluralism and is no stranger to mass protests and swift impeachments, Slavney said, citing the example of former President Park Geun-hye, the country s first female president, who was ousted from office and imprisoned forbribery and other crimes in 2017.
— Kim Tong-hyung, The Associated Press
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