South Korea lifts martial law after lawmakers reject Presidential decree

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol lifted martial law early Wednesday, 4 December, following intense political backlash and a swift bipartisan vote in parliament rejecting the move. The decree, imposed late Tuesday, had plunged the nation into political turmoil, with troops surrounding the National Assembly and sparking public protests.

Yoon declared martial law citing “anti-state forces” and accusing opposition lawmakers of sympathizing with communist North Korea. However, the National Assembly, led by Speaker Woo Won Shik, denounced the measure as “invalid” and vowed to uphold democracy.

The liberal Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the 300-seat parliament, called for lawmakers to remain in session until the order was rescinded.

Troops stationed outside parliament began withdrawing shortly after the vote. Woo commended the military’s swift compliance, stating, “Even with our unfortunate memories of military coups, our citizens have surely observed the events of today and seen the maturity of our military.

The president formally lifted martial law at a Cabinet meeting around 4:30 a.m. but continued to criticize the parliament for attempting to impeach senior officials and prosecutors.

Yoon accused lawmakers of “unscrupulous acts of legislative and budgetary manipulation” that he said were undermining the state’s functions.

Reports emerged from opposition lawmakers alleging that troops had moved in a manner suggesting plans to detain key political figures, including Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, Speaker Woo, and Han Dong-hoon, head of Yoon’s People Power Party. Requests for comments from the president’s office and the Defense Ministry went unanswered.

Protests erupted outside the Assembly during the standoff, with demonstrators demanding Yoon’s impeachment. Scuffles broke out as troops attempted to enter the building, breaking at least one window, but no significant injuries or property damage were reported.

Under South Korea’s constitution, martial law is reserved for national emergencies such as wartime or comparable crises. Critics questioned whether the current political tensions warranted such a drastic measure, with many labeling Yoon’s actions as an overreach of presidential authority.

The incident has further deepened the rift between the president and parliament, raising concerns about the stability of South Korea’s democratic institutions amid escalating political tensions.