South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has announced the lifting of martial law just hours after its imposition sent shockwaves through the nation. The declaration, made in a surprise late-night televised address, had plunged South Korea into political uncertainty and sparked fierce backlash from lawmakers across the political spectrum.
President Yoon initially declared martial law citing threats from "North Korean communist forces" and the need to "rebuild and protect" South Korea from "falling into ruin." This move was met with immediate opposition from the National Assembly, where 190 out of 300 members swiftly voted to overturn the decree. National Assembly Chairman Woo Won-sik labeled the president’s decree as “invalid” and called for its immediate lifting.
The martial law declaration, which marked the first such instance since 1980, saw military personnel mobilized around key government buildings, including the National Assembly. However, the swift parliamentary vote forced President Yoon to retract the order by early Wednesday morning, during a Cabinet meeting.
In his address, President Yoon stated, "I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country," urging citizens to trust in his leadership despite the "inconveniences" caused by the martial law measures.
The United States, a key ally of South Korea, expressed "grave concern" over the developments. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell emphasized the "ironclad" nature of the US-South Korea alliance while monitoring the situation closely.
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