Egypt Daily News – South Korean President Yoon Suk-yul said he would lift the martial law order after a parliamentary vote to ban it, South Korean media reported.
Earlier Tuesday, the political party led by President Yeon Suk-yul urged it to abandon its efforts to introduce martial law in South Korea, as the country’s political blocs united in opposing the move.
A consensus against the effort was reached during a meeting of the People Power Party, shortly after lawmakers in the National Assembly voted to block the move, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The party urged Yoon to “accept the National Assembly’s decision to lift martial law and lift it immediately,” Yonhap reported.
In a late-night meeting, the South Korean National Assembly passed a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law declared by the South Korean president a few hours earlier.
By law, the president must respect the decision. South Korea’s martial law law stipulates that if the assembly demands an end to martial law, the president must end it without delay.
South Korean lawmakers voted to block the martial law decree announced by President Yoon Suk-yeol. According to South Korean media, about 190 members of parliament voted to abolish martial law.
Earlier today South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday had declared martial law in a speech broadcast live on YTN TV, saying he would eliminate “blatant anti-state, pro-North Korean forces.”
This is the first time since 1980 that martial law has been declared in South Korea.
The activities of parliament and political parties will be banned, and media outlets and publishing houses will be under the control of the martial law leadership, Yonhap News Agency quoted the military as saying.
Yoon did not mention any specific threat from nuclear-armed Pyongyang, focusing instead on his domestic political rivals. Following this announcement, Defense Minister Kim Young-hyun ordered an emergency meeting of senior military commanders, calling for heightened vigilance and remaining on high alert.
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, security measures around Parliament have been beefed up, hindering lawmakers’ entry into the building.
The White House is watching “closely”
For its part, the White House confirmed on Tuesday that it was following the situation in South Korea “closely” after President Yeon Suk-yeol announced the imposition of martial law and the ban on political activity.
A spokesman for the US National Security Council said that the administration of President Joe Biden is “in contact with the government of the Republic of Korea and is closely monitoring the situation.” Seoul is one of Washington’s main allies, and hosts thousands of American soldiers.
“Invalid”… The South Korean Parliament responds to the president’s actions
The South Korean Parliament rejected the decisions taken by the country’s President, Yeon Suk-yeol, to impose martial law in the country. It voted against the president’s decisions by a majority of 190 votes from the representatives present out of 300, after a session held on Tuesday regarding those decisions.
The Speaker of the South Korean Parliament also said that imposing martial law was “invalid,” and the country’s opposition leader considered it an “illegal step.” The head of the ruling party, Han Dong-hun, described the declaration of martial law as a “mistake,” stressing his determination to prevent it in cooperation with the people.
Other parties also considered this move “unconstitutional and anti-public.”
Yoon pointed to the moves of the opposition Democratic Party, which controls Parliament, to dismiss senior prosecutors and reject the government’s budget proposal, considering that these actions “threaten the country’s stability.”
“To protect liberal South Korea from threats posed by communist forces in North Korea and eliminate anti-state elements. I hereby declare a state of emergency and martial law,” Yoon said in his speech. The South Korean authorities closed the parliament building in Seoul, and helicopters landed on its roof after declaring martial law, according to Yonhap.
Local television channels broadcast live images showing the helicopters landing on the roof of the building, in an unprecedented step that coincided with decisive statements from Yoon.
Immediately, Seoul witnessed demonstrations in front of Parliament headquarters, in protest against the president’s actions.
The announcement comes at a time when Yoon is witnessing a decline in his government’s popularity, as he has difficulty passing his political agenda in Parliament, which has been controlled by the opposition since he took office in 2022.
The ruling People’s Power Party reached a dead end with the opposition Democratic Party over the draft budget law for next year. Tensions increased after Yoon rejected calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and senior officials in his government, which sparked sharp criticism from his political opponents.
These developments raise questions about the future of Yoon’s rule and the stability of the political situation in South Korea.
The army deploys in Seoul after “martial law” but stands down after parliament vote
South Korean Soldiers and Police seen leaving the National Assembly Building in Seoul, after the Parliament voted to end the Martial Law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol. The Crisis appears to be over, with the apparent Coup by President Yoon having Failed.
