South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government early Wednesday lifted the martial law he imposed during a tense night of political drama in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule.
Police and military personnel were seen leaving the grounds of parliament following the bipartisan vote, and the declaration was formally lifted at about 4:30 a.m. during a cabinet meeting.
Yoon’s chief of staff and senior secretaries later offered to resign en masse, the Newsis and Yonhap news agencies reported on Wednesday.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he would lift the martial law declaration he imposed overnight after parliament voted to reject his declaration. Yoon declared martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate ‘anti-state’ forces.
Yoon imposed martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea.
Less than three hours later, parliament acted, with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring that the martial law was “invalid” and that lawmakers “will protect democracy with the people.”
The president’s surprising move harkened back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and it was immediately denounced by the opposition and the leader of Yoon’s own party.
“It’s a shocking development. There’s no other way to describe it. South Korea has experienced martial law in the past but not since it became a full-fledged liberal democracy in the ’80s,” said Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of research and strategy with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
Jeremy Chan, senior analyst for China and Northeast Asia at Eurasia Group, says South Korean President’s Yoon Suk Yeol’s tenure is likely at risk after lawmakers including members of his own party unanimously rejected his declaration of martial law. Yoon’s term was set to end in 2027, but he is likely to face direct impeachment articles in the coming weeks, Chan says.
Nadjibulla said it was “important to note” there is no immediate threat from North Korea that might have influenced the president’s choice.
“At least, that’s not the reason why this has happened,” she told CBC News Network on Tuesday.
“This is very much about a domestic power struggle and a deeply unpopular president essentially bringing in this measure in the midst of a number of debates in its domestic parliament on the budget as well as scandals — including with his own wife — and other issues that have been plaguing democracy and the constitutional system in South Korea for the last few months.”
While announcing his plan to lift martial law, Yoon continued to criticize parliament’s attempts to impeach key government officials and senior prosecutors, and lawmakers’ “unscrupulous acts of legislative and budgetary manipulation that are paralyzing the functions of the state.”
Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, called the South Korean president’s declaration of martial law a ‘shocking development’ that speaks to domestic issues and the challenges of a ‘deeply unpopular’ president.
Jo Seung-lae, a lawmaker with the opposition liberal Democratic Party, claimed that security camera footage following Yoon’s declaration showed that troops moved in a way that suggested they were trying to arrest opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, Woo, the Speaker, and even Han Dong-hoon, the leader of Yoon’s People Power Party.
Officials from Yoon’s office and the Defence Ministry did not respond to requests for comment early Wednesday.
Calls for impeachment
Seemingly hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the National Assembly, waving banners and calling for Yoon’s impeachment.
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 the 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.
Vote was unanimous
Soon after the declaration, parliament’s 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. Television footage showed soldiers who had been stationed at parliament leaving the site after the vote.
Hours earlier, TV showed police officers blocking the entrance of the National Assembly and helmeted soldiers carrying rifles in front of the building.
Supporters of South Korea’s opposition gathered in Seoul to call for the dismissal of martial law after a declaration from the country’s president late Tuesday.
An Associated Press photographer saw at least three helicopters, likely from the military, landing inside the National Assembly grounds, while two or three helicopters circled above the site.
The leader of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party called the decision to impose martial law “wrong” and vowed to “stop it with the people.” 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 has 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 pass motions to impeach three top prosecutors, including the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, in what the conservatives have called a vendetta against their criminal investigations of Lee, who has been seen as the favourite 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,” but 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.
His move was the first declaration of martial law since the country’s democratization in 1987. Martial law was last declared in the country in October 1979, following the assassination of former military dictator Park Chung-hee.
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