South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol‘s cabinet has overturned the country’s martial law decision barely hours after issuing the surprise declaration that threw Seoul into political uncertainty and provoked harsh criticism from politicians across the political spectrum.
The cabinet decision came after Yoon reversed his short-lived edict in the early hours of Wednesday local time, withdrawing the military assigned to carry out the order. South Korean members of parliament, who hurried earlier in the night to stop the martial law decree through a legislative vote, are now demanding resignations.
Opposition parties submitted the impeachment motion just hours after parliament unanimously voted to cancel Yoon’s declaration, forcing him to lift martial law about six hours after it began.
“We will not sit idly by and watch President Yoon’s crime of destroying the Constitution and trampling on democracy. President Yoon should immediately resign voluntarily,” the party said.
Impeaching Yoon requires the support of two-thirds of the National Assembly and at least six of the nine Constitutional Court justices. The liberal opposition Democratic Party holds a majority in the 300-seat parliament and has called for Yoon’s resignation.
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A vote on the impeachment motion could be as early as Friday, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min said.
The last time a South Korean president declared martial law was in 1980, during a nationwide uprising led by students and labour unions.
Yoon declared martial law in a surprise late-night address on Tuesday, bringing back memories of a more harsh, authoritarian era as the military attempted to enter the National Assembly’s main hall and protesters gathered outside after his announcement.
The president accused the main opposition party of sympathising with North Korea and engaging in anti-state acts, citing a vote by the Democratic Party, which holds a parliamentary majority, to impeach senior prosecutors and reject a government budget proposal.
During the tense and shocking hours of martial law, heavily armed forces ringed the parliament, backed up by army helicopters and armoured vehicles. Lawmakers climbed walls to get access to the premises and repelled troops with fire extinguishers. Ahn Gwi-Leong, a politician and former news anchor, attempted to remove an assault rifle placed at her chest while shouting, “Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves?”
The parliamentarians who were able to re-enter the building rejected Yoon’s martial law declaration 190-0, including 18 from Yoon’s party, prompting Yoon to withdraw it at a hastily convened Cabinet meeting.
Protesters outside the National Assembly parliament shouted and clapped. “We won!” they chanted, and one demonstrator banged on a drum.
Questions remain about the future of Yoon’s president, his party’s leadership, and what happens next in one of the world’s most important economies and a key US ally.
