South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared martial law, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls the country’s parliament and which he accuses of sympathising with communist North Korea.
Less than three hours later, parliament voted to lift the declaration, with National Assembly speaker Woo Won Shik declaring that the martial law was “invalid” and that legislators “will protect democracy with the people”.
Police and military personnel were seen leaving the Assembly’s grounds after Mr Woo called for their withdrawal.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the liberal Democratic Party, which holds the majority in the 300-seat parliament, said the party’s legislators will remain in the Assembly’s main hall until Mr Yoon formally lifts his order.
Seemingly hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Assembly, waving banners and calling for Mr Yoon’s impeachment.
“Democratic Party lawmakers, including me and many others, will protect our country’s democracy and future and public safety, lives and properties, with our own lives,” Mr Lee told a televised news conference.
The president’s surprising move harks back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and was immediately denounced by the opposition and by the leader of Mr Yoon’s own conservative party.
Under South Korea’s constitution, the president can declare martial law during “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states” that require the use of military force to maintain peace and order.
It was questionable whether South Korea is currently in such a state.
When martial law is declared, “special measures” can be employed to restrict the freedom of press, freedom of assembly and other rights, as well as the power of courts.
The constitution also states that the president must oblige when the National Assembly demands the lifting of martial law with a majority vote.
Following Mr Yoon’s announcement, South Korea’s military proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” would be suspended, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said.
In Washington, the White House said the US was “seriously concerned” by the events in Seoul.
A spokesperson for the National Security Council said President Joe Biden’s administration was not notified in advance of the martial law announcement and was in contact with the South Korean government.
The military also said that the country’s striking doctors should return to work within 48 hours, Yonhap said.
Thousands of doctors have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical schools.
The military said anyone who violates the decree could be arrested without a warrant.
Under South Korean law, martial law can be lifted with a majority vote in the parliament, where the opposition Democratic Party holds a majority.
Soon after the declaration, the National Assembly speaker called in an emergency statement released on his YouTube channel for all legislators to gather at the National Assembly.
He urged military and law enforcement personnel to “remain calm and hold their positions”.
All 190 legislators who participated in the vote supported the lifting of martial law.
Television footage showed soldiers who had been stationed at parliament leaving the site after the vote.
Hours earlier, TV showed police officers blocking the entrance of the National Assembly and helmeted soldiers carrying rifles in front of the building to restrict entrance to the building.
An Associated Press photographer saw at least three helicopters, likely to be from the military, that landed inside the Assembly grounds, while two or three helicopters circled above the site.
Cho Kuk, a leader of a minor opposition party, said there were not enough legislators present to vote down the martial law declaration, as police blocked the entrance.
The leader of Mr Yoon’s conservative People Power Party, Han Dong-hoon, called the decision to impose martial law “wrong” and vowed to “stop it with the people”.
Mr Lee, who narrowly lost to Mr Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, called Mr Yoon’s announcement “illegal and unconstitutional”.
Mr Yoon said during a televised speech that martial law would help “rebuild and protect” the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin”.
He said he would “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order”.
“I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalise the country,” he said, while asking the people to believe in him and tolerate “some inconveniences”.
Mr Yoon – whose approval rating has dipped in recent months – has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022.
Mr Yoon’s party has been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition over next year’s budget Bill.
The opposition has also been attempting to pass motions to impeach three top prosecutors, including the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, in what the conservatives have called a vendetta against their criminal investigations of Mr Lee, who has been seen as the favourite for the next presidential election in 2027 in opinion polls.
Mr Yoon has also been dismissing calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals.
The Democratic Party reportedly called an emergency meeting of its legislators following Mr Yoon’s announcement.
Mr Yoon’s move is the first declaration of martial law since the country’s democratisation in 1987.
The country’s last previous martial law was in October 1979.
