South Korea president lifts martial law within hours after imposing; what made him change his decision?

Hours after imposing it, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol lifted the martial law decree early Wednesday. His decision came after his earlier announcement sparked protests and lawmakers defied security forces to vote against his declaration.

Why martial law was imposed in South Korea?

Late on Tuesday, Yoon declared “emergency martial law”, accusing opposition parties of destabilising governance, sympathising with North Korea and threatening the constitutional order of the nation. He even vowed to eliminate “anti-state” forces.

“To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements plundering people’s freedom and happiness, I hereby declare emergency martial law,” Yoon said in a televised address late on Tuesday.

“Our National Assembly has become a haven for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship that seeks to paralyse the judicial and administrative systems and overturn our liberal democratic order,” he said.

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Protests in South Korea after Yoon imposed martial law

Soon after the announcement, political tension heightened in South Korea between Yoon’s People Power Party and the opposition Democratic Party.

After declaration of martial law, the National Assembly was completely sealed and helicopters were seen landing on the roof of the building in Seoul. According to reports from Yonhap news agency, the military announced that activities by parliament and political parties would be prohibited, and media outlets along with publishing houses would operate under direct supervision of the martial law administration.

Yoon’s decision to impose martial law, first in over four decades, also plunged South Korea into its deepest turmoil in its modern democratic history and caught even the country’s closest allies around the world off guard.

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Opposition, protesters demanded Yoon’s resignation

As soon as Yoon’s televised statement on Tuesday, announcing the imposition of martial law in South Korea, thousands of people took to the streets to protest his decision. Crowds started to gather near the parliament with some trying to enter the premises but were stopped by police officers who stood guard in front of the National Assembly in Seoul.

The protesters waved South Korean flags and some chanted, “Arrest Yoon Sul Yeol,” “Withdraw emergency martial law!”.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers of South Korea’s main opposition party – who jumped fences and tussled with security forces so they could vote to overturn the law – demanded Yoon to step down immediately over the attempted “insurrection”.

Han Dong-hoon, the head of his own conservative party, denounced Yoon’s decision of imposition of martial law as “wrong” and pledged to “stop it with the people.”

Lee Jae-myung, the opposition leader who was narrowly defeated by Yoon in the 2022 presidential race, criticised the announcement, labelling it “illegal and unconstitutional.”

Also, South Korea’s largest umbrella labour union also called an “indefinite general strike” until Yoon resigned.

Yoon withdraws martial law decree

Moments after Yoon’s announcement, a voting was held in South Korea’s parliament which passed a resolution to lift martial law declared by the President.

After his declaration was rejected by parliament, Yoon was forced to lift the martial law which he announced on Tuesday.

“Just a moment ago, there was a demand from the National Assembly to lift the state of emergency, and we have withdrawn the military that was deployed for martial law operations,” Yoon said in a televised address around 4:30 am (1930 GMT Tuesday).

“We will accept the National Assembly’s request and lift the martial law through the Cabinet meeting.”

Yoon’s cabinet had soon approved the motion to lift the order.

In the parliament vote, 190 of the 300 lawmakers were present. “Of the 190 present, 190 in favour, I declare that the resolution calling for the lifting of the emergency martial law has been passed,” national assembly speaker Woo Won-shik said.

Under the constitution, martial law must be lifted when a majority in parliament demands it.