South Korea lifts president's martial law decree after lawmakers reject military rule

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol revoked the martial law order hours after its implementation, yielding to political pressure. This came after the military surrounded the National Assembly, where lawmakers voted against the military rule, creating a tense situation.

President Yoon Suk-yeol faces the possibility of impeachment due to his actions. He declared martial law late Tuesday, citing dissatisfaction with the opposition and vowing to eradicate "anti-state" forces. He accused the opposition, which controls the National Assembly, of sympathizing with communist North Korea.

Police and military personnel were seen leaving the National Assembly compound after a bipartisan vote in the National Assembly rejected the president's martial law order. During a cabinet meeting, the martial law was officially lifted at 4:30 a.m. local time (6:30 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time).

The National Assembly acted swiftly after the martial law order took effect. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik declared the decree "invalid," stating that lawmakers would "defend democracy with the people." Woo Won-shik praised the military for its swift withdrawal from the parliament after the vote.

While announcing the lifting of martial law, Yoon Suk-yeol continued to criticize the National Assembly's attempts to impeach government officials and senior prosecutors. He stated that lawmakers engaged in "reckless legislative and budgetary manipulation, paralyzing national functions."

The White House stated that the United States expressed "serious concern" regarding the situation in Seoul. A National Security Council spokesperson said that the Biden administration was not notified in advance of the declaration of martial law and is in contact with the South Korean government.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the National Assembly, waving banners and calling for Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment. Some protesters clashed with the military before the lawmakers' vote, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or major property damage. It was reported that at least one window was broken when the military attempted to enter the parliament building.

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung stated in a press conference that Democratic Party lawmakers, including himself, would defend the nation's democracy, future, public safety, lives, and property with their lives. The Democratic Party holds a majority in the 300-seat National Assembly.

The president's shocking move, reminiscent of an era of authoritarian leaders unseen in the country since the 1980s, was immediately condemned by the opposition and leaders of Yoon Suk-yeol's own conservative party.

According to Yonhap News Agency, after Yoon Suk-yeol announced martial law, the South Korean military announced it would suspend parliamentary and other political gatherings that could lead to "social confusion." The military also stated that striking doctors in South Korea should return to work within 48 hours. Thousands of doctors have been on strike for months due to the government's plan to increase the number of medical school students. The military stated that anyone violating the decree could be arrested without a warrant.

According to the South Korean Constitution, the president can declare martial law during "wartime, a situation similar to wartime, or other equivalent national emergency" that requires the use of force to maintain peace and order. Whether South Korea is currently in such a state is doubtful. After declaring martial law, "special measures" can be taken to restrict freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and other rights, as well as the powers of the courts. The constitution also stipulates that the president must comply when the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law by a majority vote.

In a televised address, Yoon Suk-yeol stated that martial law would help "rebuild and protect" the nation from "falling into the abyss of national destruction." He said he would "eradicate pro-North Korean forces and uphold the constitutional democratic order." He said, "I will eliminate anti-state forces as soon as possible and restore the country to normalcy," while asking the people to trust him and tolerate "some inconvenience."

Since taking office in 2022, Yoon Suk-yeol has struggled to push through his agenda in the opposition-controlled National Assembly, and his approval ratings have declined in recent months. Yoon Suk-yeol's party is deadlocked with the liberal opposition over next year's budget bill. The opposition has also sought to pass motions to impeach three senior prosecutors, including the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, in what conservatives call retaliation for their criminal investigation into Lee Jae-myung. Polls show Lee Jae-myung is considered a leading candidate in the next presidential election in 2027.

Sydney Seiler, Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, believes the move was a symbolic gesture by Yoon Suk-yeol to express his dissatisfaction with the opposition-controlled National Assembly. Seiler likened Yoon Suk-yeol's move to a Hail Mary pass in American football, with little chance of success. Natalia Slavney, a research analyst at the Stimson Center's 38 North website, said that Yoon Suk-yeol's implementation of martial law was a "serious democratic backsliding" that occurred after a "worrying trend of abuse of power" since he took office in 2022.

Slavney stated that South Korea "has a robust history of political pluralism and is no stranger to mass protests and swift impeachments," citing the example of South Korea's first female president, Park Geun-hye, who was removed from office and imprisoned in 2017 for bribery and other crimes.