SEOUL – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday he would revoke a surprise declaration of martial law he imposed hours earlier. He withdrew amid a standoff with parliament, which roundly rejected his attempt to ban political activities and censor the media.
Amid South Korea’s biggest political crisis in decades, Yoon shocked the nation and declared martial law Tuesday night to thwart “anti-state forces” among his domestic political opponents. But outraged lawmakers unanimously rejected the decree. Yonhap news agency said the cabinet had agreed to lift martial law early on Wednesday.
Protesters outside the National Assembly parliament shouted and clapped. “We won!” they sang, and one protester beat a drum.
The main opposition Democratic Party called on Yoon, who has been in power since 2022, to resign or face impeachment.
“Even if martial law is lifted, he cannot avoid accusations of treason. It was clearly revealed to the entire nation that President Yoon could no longer govern the country normally. He should resign,” senior DP lawmaker Park Chan-dae said in a statement.
“South Korea dodged a bullet as a nation, but President Yoon may have shot himself in the foot,” said Danny Russel, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute think tank in the United States.
The South Korean won currency hit a more than two-year low against the dollar after Yoon’s reversal, while exchange-traded funds linked to South Korean stocks similarly pared losses.
Yoon’s surprise declaration of martial law, which he cast as targeting his political enemies, was rejected by 190 lawmakers in parliament. His own party urged him to lift the decree. Under South Korean law, the president must immediately lift martial law if parliament demands it by a majority vote.
The crisis in a country that has been a democracy since the 1980s, a US ally and a major Asian economy, caused international alarm.
US ENLIGHTENED
Following Yoon’s announcement of martial law in a TV speech, the South Korean military had said that activities of parliament and political parties would be banned, and that the media and publishers would be under the control of the command. state of siege.
Helmeted troops briefly attempted to enter the parliament building. Parliamentary assistants were seen trying to push the soldiers back by spraying fire extinguishers.
The White House said it was pleased that Yoon had withdrawn.
“We are relieved that President Yoon has reversed course on his disturbing declaration of martial law and respected the National Assembly’s vote to end it,” a White House spokesperson said.
Earlier, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the United States was watching events in South Korea with “grave concern.” About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea to protect against the nuclear-armed North.
Yoon did not mention any specific threat from the North, focusing instead on his domestic political opponents. It was the first time since 1980 that martial law was declared in South Korea.
Russel, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia under former President Barack Obama, said South Korea is now looking at the prospect of early elections.
“Political uncertainty and domestic conflict in South Korea are not our friend. However, political uncertainty and domestic conflict in South Korea are North Korea’s friends. You can be sure that North Korea is licking its chops,” he said.
Yoon, a career prosecutor, won 2022 in the tightest presidential election in South Korean history. He rode a wave of discontent over economic policies, scandals and gender wars, aiming to reshape the political future of Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
But he is unpopular: his support figures have been hovering around 20% for months.
His People Power Party suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary elections in April this year, handing control of the unicameral assembly to opposition parties that won almost two-thirds of the seats.
More than a dozen cases of martial law have been declared since South Korea was established as a republic in 1948.
In 1980, a group of military officers led by Chun Doo-hwan forced then-President Choi Kyu-hah to declare martial law to quell calls from the opposition, workers and students for the restoration of democratic government. — Reuters