Seoul [South Korea]: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced the removal of emergency martial law early Wednesday after the National Assembly unanimously voted to terminate the measure, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The president’s cabinet approved a motion to end martial law enforcement in the early hours, roughly six hours after the declaration was made on Tuesday. The martial law had been imposed in response to what Yoon described as “anti-state” activities by the opposition, which he claimed were “paralysing” the government’s operations. The declaration had drawn widespread domestic and international concern.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea confirmed that troops deployed under the martial law order had returned to their bases, marking a restoration of normalcy.
President Yoon defended the initial imposition of martial law, stating, “At 11 p.m. last night, I declared emergency martial law with my resolute intent to save the nation in the face of anti-state forces that attempt to paralyse the nation’s essential function and the constitutional order of free democracy.” However, he added, “There was a demand from the National Assembly for the lifting of martial law; (I) have withdrawn troops mobilised to execute martial law affairs.”
Despite the reversal, criticism from opposition leaders intensified. Hwang Un-ha, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, strongly condemned the military mobilisation and signaled plans to pursue impeachment proceedings against Yoon.
The martial law declaration had also prompted strong reactions from the international community. The US expressed “grave concern” about the developments but welcomed the decision to lift martial law.
“We are relieved President Yoon has reversed course on his concerning declaration of martial law and respected the ROK National Assembly’s vote to end it,” said a spokesperson for the US National Security Council, as quoted by Yonhap News Agency. “Democracy is at the foundation of the US-ROK alliance, and we will continue to monitor the situation.”