Yoon Suk Yeol Declares Martial Law Live Updates: Hours after the President’s announcement, the South Korean Parliament voted to reject the law, while National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declared it invalid.
Why South Korea Overturns Martial Law
The lawmakers of opposition led coalition have tabled a motion in the South Korean parliament to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. The bill was tabled in the National Assembly, which is the country’s legislature. The six parties, including the main opposition Democratic Party, joined hands to propose the impeachment motion against President Yoon.
Demonstrators on Wednesday morning gathered outside South Korea’s National Assembly to demand the resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who had imposed a martial law in the country only to call it off hours later. Trade union members, opposition party are demanding that President Yoon steps down.
The martial law in South Korea, which was enforced by President Yoon Suk Yeol in a surprise move, had been called-off after 190 MPs in parliament voted against it. In less than two hours of implementing the martial law, MPs had defied the president, gathering at the National Assembly and voting to block his move.
Hours after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared “emergency martial law” in South Korea Tuesday, military troops tried to enter the Parliament, according to news agency Reuters. Yoon made the declaration in an unannounced television address, accusing the opposition of “sympathising with North Korea” and “paralysing the government with anti-state activities.” Live TV footage showed troops, who had allegedly been tasked with imposing the law, trying to enter the Assembly building. Opposition leaders, also called parliamentary aides, could also be seen attempting to prevent soldiers from entering the premises by spraying fire extinguishers on them.
Parliament lifts the martial law: Hours after Yoon’s announcement, the Parliament voted to reject the martial law, while National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declared it invalid, as per Reuters. Speaker Shik declared that lawmakers “will protect democracy with the people”, and called for police and military personnel to withdraw from the Assembly’s grounds, The Associated Press reported. As per South Korea’s constitution, the President’s martial law declaration must be reviewed by the cabinet and be relayed to the National Assembly. The president must comply when the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law by a majority vote of members.
The martial law is meant to replace South Korea’s civilian government and establish military rule. It also suspends civilian legal processes for military ones. Standard civil liberties may be suspended till martial law is in force. The latest National Assembly elections held in South Korea earlier this year delivered a landslide verdict for the opposition. Moreover, in recent weeks, Yoon’s conservative People Power Party had been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition Democratic Party over next year’s budget bill. The opposition has also moved to impeach three top prosecutors, thus leading to Yoon’s decision to impose martial law.
China’s embassy in South Korea tells nationals to ‘remain vigilant’ amid marshal law chaos
China’s embassy in Seoul has urged its national to be remain vigilant and stay informed about the situation in South Korea amid a political turmoil in the country after President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to impose martial law in the country, but failed due to pressure from opposition and parliament blocking the move.
“The social order in South Korea is now back to normal, and Chinese citizens in South Korea can return to their daily lives. However, please remain vigilant, stay informed about the local situation, and enhance your personal safety precautions,” the Chinese embassy said, as quoted by CNN.
Martial law declaration was done within the law, says South Korean president’s office
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office said on Wednesday a declaration of martial law by Yoon late on Tuesday was justified and within the bounds of the constitution, denying martial law forces had interfered with lawmakers’ access to parliament.
Yoon reversed the order hours later after parliament rejected his attempt to ban political activity and censor the media.
Opposition lawmakers in South Korea table a motion to impeach President Yoon
The opposition lawmakers in South Korea have tabled a motion in the parliament to impeach the incumbent President Yoon Suk Yeol, who belongs to the ruling People Power Party over his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country on Tuesday night.
Japan’s PM Ishiba expresses ‘serious concerns’ over President Yoon’s decision
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed serious concerns over South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to impose martial law in the country and later reverse it, as the Japanese PM said that he is monitoring the situation closely.
Japan PM Ishiba further said that the Japanese government was “taking all possible measures” to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in South Korea and that he is not aware of any national getting injured.
President Yoon declared a martial law in South Korea last night, and later reversed his decision amid severe backlash from opposition and his own ruling party.
