South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol said on Tuesday he would lift a martial law declaration he had imposed just hours before, backing down in a standoff with parliament which rejected his attempt to ban political activity and censor the media.
Mr Yoon declared martial law on to thwart “anti-state forces” among his opponents. But, in South Korea’s biggest political crisis in decades, outraged members of the parliament rejected the decree. Yonhap news agency said the cabinet had agreed to scrap the martial law.
Protesters outside parliament shouted and clapped. “We won!” they chanted.
Cho Kuk, head of a minor opposition party, met protesters outside parliament and said: “This isn’t over. He put all the people in shock.”
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He promised to impeach Mr Yoon by combining votes from other parties.
Mr Yoon’s surprise declaration of martial law, which he cast as aimed at his political foes, was unanimously voted down by 190 lawmakers in parliament. His own party urged him to lift the decree. Under South Korean law, the president must immediately lift martial law if parliament demands it by a majority vote.
The crisis in a country that has been a democracy since the 1980s, and is a US ally and major Asian economy, caused international alarm.
Earlier, US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell said the United States was watching events in South Korea with “grave concern” and hoped that any political disputes would be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.
After Mr Yoon’s announcement of martial law in a late-night television address, the military said activities by parliament and political parties would be banned, and that media and publishers would be under the control of the martial law command.
Mr Yoon did not cite any specific threat from nuclear-armed North Korea, instead focusing on his domestic political opponents. It is the first time since 1980 that martial law has been declared in South Korea.
Mr Yoon, a career prosecutor who was elected in May 2022 by a very narrow margin, has been unpopular, with his support ratings hovering at around 20 per cent for months.
His People Power Party suffered a landslide defeat at a parliamentary election in April this year, ceding control of the unicameral assembly to opposition parties that captured nearly two-thirds of the seats.
After Mr Yoon’s earlier declaration, live television footage showed helmeted troops apparently tasked with imposing martial law attempting to enter the National Assembly building. Parliamentary aides were seen trying to push the soldiers back by spraying fire extinguishers.
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Mr Yoon said in his earlier TV broadcast that opposition parties had taken the parliamentary process hostage. He vowed to eradicate “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces” and said he had no choice but to take the measure to safeguard constitutional order.
“This declaration is illegal and constitutes a criminal act, directly violating the constitution and other laws,” the opposition Democratic Party said in response.
“It is essentially a coup d’état,” it said.
Shortly after Mr Yoon made his announcement, people began gathering outside the parliament building, some of them shouting: “Withdraw emergency martial law!”
“Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol” shouted others.
Demonstrator Im Jin-soo (66) said he asked his children to stay at home out of concern for their safety but he came to protest outside the parliament after seeing the news.
“I am so angry, I am beyond confused,” he said. “I came out to protect democracy. During the dictators we couldn’t rise up, but now we can.” – Reuters
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