South Korean President Gives Update On Martial Declaration

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ended his martial law declaration after parliament members rallied against the move.

On Tuesday, Yoon declared martial law to eliminate “anti-state forces” that he accused of sympathizing with North Korea.

Shortly after he declared martial law, large crowds gathered outside of the Parliament building, chanting, “Withdraw emergency martial law!”

Lawmakers quickly assembled in Parliament and, with 190-0, voted against Yoon’s declaration.

Under South Korean law, the President cannot overrule the parliament’s vote to lift martial law.

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Breaking news:🇰🇷 South Korea's President lifts Martial Law declaration. pic.twitter.com/uCmwPNHtG3

— VHAGAR (@Jackiechan_jack) December 3, 2024

BREAKING: South Korea's parliament votes 190-0 to lift martial law pic.twitter.com/08Sf0HHZ0C

— BNO News (@BNONews) December 3, 2024

Here’s what Fox News reported:

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol lifted his martial law declaration after lawmakers rejected the move following Yoon’s vow to eliminate “anti-state” forces in a serious challenge to the country’s Parliament, which he accused of sympathizing with North Korea.

The Tuesday night declaration was vocally opposed by the speaker of Parliament and even the leader of Yoon’s own party, Han Dong-hoon, who has clashed with the president over his handling of recent scandals, Reuters reported.

Shortly after Yoon made his announcement, people began gathering outside the Parliament building, some of them shouting: “Withdraw emergency martial law!” while scuffling with troops. Under South Korean law, the president must lift martial law if the Parliament demands it with a majority vote.

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.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was monitoring the situation and that U.S. forces were in close contact with their South Korean counterparts.

“The U.S. government writ large is in contact with the Republic of Korea,” Ryder told reporters.

⚡️South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol lifts martial law – Yonhap pic.twitter.com/C2tGsmUH1i

— RT (@RT_com) December 3, 2024

Per The Guardian:

South Korea’s rightwing president has been forced to back down after he unexpectedly declared martial law only to face unanimous opposition from the national assembly, in the most serious challenge to the country’s democracy since the 1980s.

President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late on Tuesday amid a dispute with opposition parties he accused of pro-North Korean sympathies and anti-state activities.

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But after some of the tensest hours in the country’s recent history, Yoon said troops would return to their barracks and the order would be lifted following a cabinet meeting.

“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 early on Wednesday morning.

🚨Just in: South Korea President Yoon has announced that he is lifting the martial law pic.twitter.com/4eg0EzhHOw

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) December 3, 2024