Its president South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol announced on Wednesday the withdrawal of his declaration martial law which he had imposed a few hours before, obeying the parliament’s vote against the measure. Yun said military forces were withdrawn while his cabinet approved the lifting of martial law.

It is recalled that earlier, the MPs voted unanimously in favor of lifting martial law, with the presence of 190 of the 300 members of parliament.

In his statement on the lifting of martial law, Yun said: “Dear citizens, I declared martial law at 11 last night (local time) with the will to save the country from the anti-state forces that are trying to paralyze the basic functions of the state and destroy the constitutional order of liberal democracy. However, not long ago, the National Assembly called for the lifting of martial law, so the troops that had been deployed due to martial law were withdrawn. Martial law will be lifted immediately upon acceptance of the National Assembly’s request through a cabinet meeting (shortly later the council approved the lifting of martial law). However, although we have immediately called a meeting of the Council, as it is still early in the morning and the quorum for a decision has not yet been reached, martial law will be lifted as soon as it is reached. However, we call on the National Assembly to immediately stop its reckless actions that are paralyzing the functions of the state through repeated impeachment, legislative manipulation and budget manipulation”

Yun declared martial law on Tuesday to prevent “forces” between his rivals. But outraged lawmakers rejected the decree as protesters rallied outside parliament in the country’s biggest political crisis in decades.

Under South Korean law, the president was required to lift martial law immediately if requested by parliament with a majority. His own party urged him to lift the decree.

The crisis in a country that has been a democracy since the 1980s, a US ally and a major Asian economy has sparked international alarm.

The timeline of developments in South Korea:

Following South Korea’s president’s decision to declare martial law, the military earlier announced that parliament and political party activities were being suspended, Yonhap news agency reported. Demonstrations and gatherings were also banned.

According to the agency, all media and publications had been brought under the control of the military. Based on the decree, all actions judged to be attempts to overthrow the liberal democratic system, as well as the transmission of “fake news” and propaganda, were prohibited.

Also, all striking medical staff, including trainee doctors, were ordered to return to work within 48 hours. Strikes, work stoppages and gatherings inciting “social chaos” were also banned.

According to the decree, those who violated martial law could be arrested and detained without a warrant.

Yonhap reported that the parliament had been sealed off and military helicopters had landed on its roof.

An official at South Korea’s central bank told Reuters that “measures are being prepared” to stabilize the market if needed.

The Seoul Stock Exchange has not yet decided whether to operate tomorrow Wednesday.

The White House announced that President Joe Biden’s administration is in contact with the South Korean government and is closely monitoring developments.

According to Yonhap, the declaration of martial law was a proposal submitted to President Yun by the defense minister.

Earlier in his speech, President Yun said that “the National Assembly has turned into a criminal haven, a hideout of a legislative dictatorship that seeks to paralyze the administrative and judicial system and subvert the liberal constitutional order.”

He also accused opposition MPs of cutting “all budgets that were central to the nation’s priorities, such as fighting drug-related crime and maintaining public safety (…) turning the country into a paradise of drugs and a place of chaos for public safety”.

Yun called the opposition, which controls parliament, “forces hostile to the state intent on overthrowing the regime.” He assured that his decision was “inevitable”.

“I will restore normalcy in the country by clearing out those forces hostile to the state as soon as possible,” he said.

Protesters outside parliament

Hundreds of people began flocking in the early hours of Wednesday morning outside South Korea’s parliament in Seoul to protest the imposition of martial law in the country, according to footage broadcast live on local television networks.

“Open the door, please. Your job is to protect the National Assembly. Why are you sitting idly by while MPs are being trampled on?” shouted a man to a group of policemen guarding the gates of the building, which has been sealed off.

At the same time, the parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, passed a resolution calling for the lifting of martial law imposed by President Yoon Suk-yeol.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik called the declaration of martial law “null and void.”

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung called martial law “illegal” and called on citizens to demonstrate outside parliament. “President Yoon Suk-yeol’s illegal imposition of martial law is invalid,” said Lee, who was narrowly defeated by Yoon in the 2022 election. “Come to the National Assembly now. I’m going there too,” he said earlier online.

Yoon’s predecessor, Moon Jae-in, who is close to the ruling Democratic Party, said in a post on Platform X that Korean democracy is in crisis. “I hope the National Assembly will act quickly to protect democracy from collapse. I am asking the people to join forces to protect and save democracy and help the National Assembly function normally,” he added.

Meanwhile, China’s embassy in South Korea has urged Chinese citizens in the country to be extra cautious following the imposition of martial law. The embassy advised “Chinese citizens in South Korea to remain calm (…) be vigilant about security, limit their non-essential outings and be careful when expressing political opinions,” it said in a statement.