SEOUL – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Wednesday that he will issue an unexpected declaration of martial law that he imposed a few hours ago, backing away from his feud with the parliament that completely rejected his attempt to shut down political activity and criticize the media.
In South Korea’s biggest political crisis in decades, Yoon shocked the country and declared martial law on Tuesday night to crack down on “anti-state forces” among his political opponents. But angry lawmakers unanimously rejected the order. Yonhap news agency said the Cabinet agreed early Wednesday to lift martial law.
Protesters outside the National Assembly parliament shouted and clapped their hands. “We won!” they sang, one of the overseers beat a drum.
The main opposition Democratic Party has called for Yoon, who has been in office since 2022, to resign or face trial.
“Even if martial law is lifted, he cannot avoid charges of treason. It was clearly revealed to the whole nation that President Yoon will no longer be able to manage the country in a normal way. He should step down,” said senior DP member of parliament Park Chan-dae in a statement.
“South Korea as a nation dodged a bullet, but President Yoon may have shot himself in the foot,” said Danny Russell, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute in the United States.
South Korea’s won fell in more than two years against the dollar after Yoon’s resignation, while currencies linked to South Korean stocks pared similar losses.
Yoon’s surprise declaration of martial law, aimed at his political enemies, was voted down by 190 lawmakers in parliament. His group urged him to remove the law. Under South Korean law, the president must immediately declare martial law if the parliament calls for it by a majority vote.
The crisis in the country, which has been a democracy since the 1980s, and which is shared by the US and the largest economies in Asia, caused fear around the world.
We rested
Following Yoon’s declaration of martial law in a televised address, the South Korean military said the activities of parliament and political parties would be banned, and that media and publishers would be controlled by martial law.
Helmeted soldiers briefly tried to enter the parliament building. Parliamentary aides were seen trying to drive the soldiers back by blowing fire extinguishers.
The White House said it was glad Yoon stepped down.
“We are relieved President Yoon has reversed course on the declaration of martial law and respected… the National Assembly’s vote to repeal it,” a White House spokesperson said.
Earlier, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that the US was watching the events in South Korea “with great concern.” About 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea to monitor the nuclear-armed North.
Yoon did not mention any threat from the North, instead focusing on his domestic political opponents. It was the first time since 1980 that martial law was declared in South Korea.
Russell, who was the top US official in East Asia under former President Barack Obama, said that South Korea is now looking at the possibility of early elections.
“Political uncertainty and domestic conflicts in South Korea are not our friend. Political uncertainty and domestic strife in South Korea is North Korea’s friend, however. You can be sure that North Korea is licking its chops,” he said.
Yoon, a prosecutor by profession, has achieved success in South Korea’s most intense presidential election in 2022. He faced a wave of discontent over economic policy, scandals and gender wars, aiming to reshape the political future of Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
But he was unpopular, with approval ratings hovering around 20% for months.
His People Power Party was resoundingly defeated in the parliamentary elections in April this year, ceding control of the unicameral assembly to opposition parties that took almost two-thirds of the seats.
There have been more than a dozen instances of martial law 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 suppress calls by dissidents, workers and students to restore a democratic government. – Reuters
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