SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol lifted the martial law he had imposed on the country early Wednesday morning, yielding to political pressure after a night of escalating tensions. The decree, imposed hours earlier, had prompted a dramatic standoff between the military and the country’s lawmakers. Troops surrounded the parliament building, but lawmakers swiftly voted to reject the imposition of military rule.
The decision to revoke martial law came after President Yoon faced significant opposition within the National Assembly. A growing number of lawmakers, alarmed by the decree’s authoritarian nature, pushed back against the president’s power grab. In the early hours of Wednesday, following the bipartisan vote to overrule his decree, police and military personnel were seen leaving the vicinity of the parliament building, signaling the end of the crisis.
The martial law had been announced late Tuesday by President Yoon, who expressed frustration over his inability to push through his policies in the face of a parliament controlled by his political adversaries. Yoon, a conservative leader, had accused the opposition of harboring sympathies with North Korea and referred to them as “anti-state” forces, claiming that they undermined the country’s security.
The declaration, which stunned both domestic and international observers, was initially met with widespread concern over a potential slide into authoritarianism. Despite Yoon’s justification of the decree as a necessary move to protect the country from internal threats, critics quickly pointed out the potential for abuse of power, drawing comparisons to past military coups that had plagued the nation’s history.
The situation reached a boiling point when National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik led a forceful response to the president’s decree. Early on Wednesday, Woo publicly declared the martial law “invalid” and insisted that lawmakers would stand firm in their commitment to democracy. “We will protect democracy with the people,” Woo said, as members of parliament gathered to vote on the matter. The vote to overrule the president was passed swiftly and decisively, further underlining the strength of opposition to the decree.
The confrontation between the president and parliament is the latest chapter in South Korea’s increasingly polarized political climate. President Yoon’s government has faced mounting criticism for its handling of several key issues, from domestic economic struggles to foreign policy tensions with neighboring North Korea. His relationship with the opposition-controlled National Assembly has grown more strained in recent months, with the president accusing his rivals of undermining his authority.
In response to the unfolding crisis, the United States and other global powers closely monitored the situation, urging restraint and caution on all sides. Western diplomats expressed concerns that the imposition of martial law could destabilize South Korea’s democratic institutions, which have been in place since the 1980s following the end of decades of military rule.
While the military presence around parliament was lifted, tensions remained high throughout the early morning hours. The South Korean public, which has historically been wary of military rule following the nation’s past experiences with dictatorship, watched the developments closely. Protests and demonstrations erupted in various parts of Seoul, with citizens demanding that the president respect the nation’s democratic framework and step back from any actions that could threaten South Korea’s political stability.
As dawn broke, President Yoon’s decision to lift the martial law was seen as a concession to the opposition and a recognition of the delicate balance of power in South Korea’s democracy. The Cabinet meeting that formally revoked the decree at approximately 4:30 a.m. was seen as a turning point in the crisis, although the political fallout is expected to reverberate for weeks.
Yoon’s move to impose martial law had come after a series of setbacks in his administration’s ability to implement key policies. The president had grown increasingly frustrated with his inability to push through legislative changes, especially on issues of national security and foreign policy. His comments about “anti-state” forces in parliament, along with his ongoing war of words with the opposition, had contributed to an atmosphere of political polarization and instability.
The lifting of martial law represents a momentary victory for South Korea’s democratic institutions, as lawmakers asserted their authority and rejected the notion of military rule. However, the underlying political divisions within the country remain unresolved, and the situation could have long-term consequences for President Yoon’s tenure. Many observers believe that the president’s credibility has been damaged by the crisis, and questions about his leadership and commitment to democratic principles are likely to persist.
In the aftermath of the crisis, calls for political reconciliation have intensified. Opposition leaders have demanded that Yoon take responsibility for his actions and work toward healing the divisions within the country. At the same time, the president’s supporters argue that the martial law decree was a necessary step to confront what they view as a threat to national security posed by the opposition’s stance on North Korea.
For now, South Korea’s political future remains uncertain. The tension between President Yoon and the opposition parties is far from over, and the possibility of further confrontations looms large. What is clear, however, is that the country’s commitment to democracy has once again been tested. Whether this crisis will ultimately strengthen South Korea’s democratic institutions or pave the way for further instability remains to be seen.
The events of the past 24 hours have underscored the delicate nature of South Korea’s democracy, which has long been shaped by its experiences with authoritarian rule. In recent years, the country has made significant strides toward political stability, but the events of this week serve as a reminder that the battle to protect democratic freedoms is never truly over. As South Korea looks to the future, it will have to navigate a challenging political landscape, balancing the demands of security, governance, and democracy.