Martial Law in South Korea revoked following Parliamentary opposition and public resistance

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol reversed his emergency martial law order within hours after it faced strong opposition from the parliament and mass protests. The decision to impose martial law was quickly overturned due to the resistance from lawmakers and public outcry.

In the early hours of Wednesday, local time, President Yoon announced the cancellation of the martial law order and ordered the military to return to their barracks. According to South Korea’s constitution, the president is obliged to end martial law immediately if a majority of parliament votes to cancel it.

Shortly after the announcement, the South Korean cabinet convened and affirmed the president’s decision. The cancellation came after a tense late-night television address by Yoon, where he declared martial law, and parliament, with 190 out of 300 members present, passed a resolution obligating him to reverse the decision.

As lawmakers voted to annul the president’s martial law decree, dozens of soldiers, who had entered the main parliament building, began to retreat. Meanwhile, a group of people gathered outside the parliament building early Wednesday morning to protest against the martial law declaration.

Following the parliamentary vote, the ruling party also called on the president to immediately revoke the martial law. Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling party, urged Yoon to explain his “regrettable” decision and to dismiss the country’s defense minister.

The swift revocation of the martial law order highlights the significant political tensions within South Korea. While President Yoon’s initial declaration may have been aimed at consolidating power in the face of perceived internal threats, the overwhelming resistance from both lawmakers and the public suggests that such drastic measures are not easily accepted in a democratic society.

This episode serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between national security concerns and the preservation of democratic freedoms in South Korea.

The recent developments also reflect the ongoing political divisions in South Korea, which have been exacerbated by differences in approach toward North Korea and domestic governance. As the country navigates these challenges, it remains to be seen how the political landscape will evolve and whether further attempts at authoritarian measures will be made in the future.

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