Early Wednesday, the South Korean government lifted the emergency martial law imposed by South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol late on Tuesday. It marked the first martial law declaration since more than four decades ago when the country was controlled by a dictatorship.
The law, which was formally lifted around 4:30AM local time, was in effect for roughly six hours.
A martial law is usually invoked during times of war, rebellion of natural disaster. When the law is in effect, the military takes over the control from civil authorities and has the power to make and enforce laws. It also suspends all existing laws.
Around 11PM local time, Yoon declared the law during a televised address and said the martial law would defend the country’s constitutional order of liberal democracy by protecting South Korea from “threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements.”
The president accused the nation’s opposition, who control the parliament known as the National Assembly, of sympathising with North Korea and paralysing the government through anti-state activity.
Hours after his announcement, the opposition declared the law as “unconstitutional” and “invalid,” and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik, who is aligned with the liberal Democratic Party (DP), said lawmakers would “protect democracy with the people.”
Yoon’s decisions sent shockwaves through the country
Under South Korean law, martial law can be lifted with a majority vote in parliament. 190 lawmakers in the opposition-dominated parliament voted to lift the law.
Following the bipartisan vote, police and military personnel rapidly left parliament grounds, which Woo applauded.
“Even with our unfortunate memories of military coups, our citizens have surely observed the events of today and saw the maturity of our military,” he said.
Earlier, military troops were seen entering the parliament and were blocked from entering the chamber by lawmakers who sprayed fire extinguishers at them.
Hundreds of protesters had also gathered in front of the parliament, waving banners and calling for Yoon’s to step down. Others were seen blocking military vehicles.
“It feels like we are returning to the era of dictatorship. I believe it is not right for President Yoon (Suk Yeol) to act unilaterally,” one protester said.
