President Yoon says martial law to be lifted in South Korea after protests: Live updates
Opposition says it will try to nullify shock move by embattled president Yoon Suk Yeol
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Your support makes all the difference.South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said early Wednesday that he would soon lift the martial law he imposed during a tense night of political drama in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule.
Yoon said his government had withdrawn the military personnel that had been deployed, and that he would formally lift martial law following a Cabinet meeting as "soon as members arrive."
Yoon had declared martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate "anti-state" forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls the country's parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea.
Less than three hours later, parliament voted to lift the declaration, 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.
South Korea's ruling party urges president to lift martial law
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s own ruling party has urged him to swiftly lift martial law following a parliamentary vote against the decree, Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday.
South Korea military says it will uphold martial law
The South Korean military has said it will uphold the decree of martial law so long as the president Yoon Suk Yeol maintains it.
The comments came after parliament, dominated by the opposition, voted to end martial law.
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South Korean forces clash with crowds outside parliament after martial law declared
South Korean forces clash with crowds outside parliament after martial law declared
Videos show chaos outside the South Korean parliament building as military soldiers try to hold off crowds after President Yoon Sook Yeol declared martial law in the country. The footage circulated on social media shows people believed to be South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party’s staff, trying to block soldiers at the National Assembly. Earlier on Wednesday, the unpopular President Yoon declared martial law as he vowed to ‘eradicate pro-North Korean anti-state forces’ but the South Korean parliament quickly voted to overturn the declaration. Mr Yoon’s poll ratings have fallen in recent months after he dismissed calls for independent probes into scandals involving his wife and top officials.
Why has South Korea declared martial law and what is it?
Why has South Korea declared martial law and what is it?
President Yoon Suk Yeol hit out at his political opponents in declaring martial law – but the country’s parliament has passed a motion calling it invalid
Biden being briefed on situation in South Korea
US president Joe Biden has said that he is “just getting briefed” on the situation in South Korea.
He gave the comments after giving a speech in Luanda, Angola.
Earlier, a senior US official said they were watching the situation in South Korea with “grave concern”.
What is martial law?
South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night in a move that stunned the country.
It triggered a short-lived attempt by troops to enter parliament, as lawmakers and protesters quickly voiced opposition to the most serious challenge to the country’s democracy since the 1980s.
Below, we have a quick explainer on what martial law means and its history in South Korea.
The decree is usually invoked during times of war, rebellion or natural disasters, and affords unlimited authority to the military commander to make and enforce laws.
It suspends all existing laws. This means there can be a suspension of traditional civil rights; in Ukraine, for example, where martial law has been in place since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian national and dual-national males aged 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving the country.
The use of military law is introduced instead.
It has not been deployed in South Korea since the country’s democratisation in 1987.
In pictures: Soldiers stationed outside South Korean parliament
US watching South Korea with ‘grave concern'
US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell said the Biden administration was watching the developments in South Korea with “grave concern”.
“We have every hope and expectation that any political disputes in South Korea will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law,” Mr Campbell said on Tuesday at an event at the US state department.
Following the vote to overturn the declaration of martial law, National Assembly speaker Woo Won Shik said in a statement, “the declaration of martial law is invalid”, according to Korean news outlet JoongAng Daily.
The news outlet reported he then asked soldiers and police who entered the building to immediately leave.
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