Closing summary
This blog is closing now but you can continue to follow our live coverage on our new liveblog here.
Here is a quick summary of recent developments:
President Yoon is facing mounting calls to step down after he declared martial law in a surprise, late-night address on Tuesday, a severe measure he said was necessary to safeguard the country’s liberal democracy from “anti-state forces” and “threats posed by North Korea”. Within hours Yoon had backtracked, saying that troops would return to their barracks and the order would be lifted after a cabinet meeting.
The main opposition Democratic party has said it will attempt to impeach Yoon if he refuses to tender his resignation immediately. Even Yoon’s own aides have offered to resign “en masse”.
Yoon’s martial law order included a six-point decree that banned political activities and parties, “false propaganda”, strikes and “gatherings that incite social unrest”. The order also brought all media outlets under the authority of martial law and directed all medical staff, including striking doctors, to return to work within 48 hours.
The move was met with vociferous condemnation and widely defied. Despite the deployment of troops and helicopters on the roof of the parliament building, 190 lawmakers managed to enter the building and proceeded to unanimously vote to reject Yoon’s declaration and call for martial law to be lifted. On the streets, hundreds protested, and chanted for the president to be arrested.
To successfully impeach Yoon, a two-thirds majority is required in the legislature.
Opposition parties together control 192 of the 300 seats in the national assembly, so would need lawmakers from Yoon’s own party to join them.
This the first time that martial law has been declared in South Korea in more than four decades, alarming allies. The United States, which stations nearly 30,000 troops in South Korea to protect it from the nuclear-armed North, initially voiced deep concern at the declaration, then relief that martial law was over. The UK Foreign Office’s minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, issued a statement, calling for “a peaceful resolution to the situation, in accordance with the law and the constitution of the Republic of Korea”.
To many watching from outside, the sudden political chaos appears to have come out of nowhere. But inside South Korea, Democratic party lawmaker Kim Min-seok had warned in recent months that Yoon was gearing up to declare martial law. Korea analysts say concerns had grown after several key military positions, related to defence, counterintelligence, and information on North Korea had been filled by individuals who graduated from the same school as the president. Opposition figures such as Kim suggested these figures could play a critical role in enforcing martial law in a contingency.
Leader of South Korea's ruling People Power Party calls for entire cabinet to resign
The leader of South Korea’s ruling People Power Party Han Dong-hoon called on Wednesday for Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun to be fired and the entire cabinet to resign, after President Yoon Suk-Yeol declared martial law only to reverse the move hours later, according to Reuters.
Han told reporters he also suggested Yoon be kicked out of the party, but ruling party lawmakers had various views.
Martial law shock - in pictures
Arresting images of the short-lived martial law declaration show how the turmoil unfolded outside of parliament and in the streets of Seoul last night.
South Korea’s president Yoon Suk Yeol faces calls to resign after martial law shock
The Guardian’s reporter in Seoul, Raphael Rashid, here with the latest wrap up of events.
Updated
The Korean lawmaker who warned of martial law months ago
To many outside of South Korea, the sudden, and short-lived declaration of martial law by President Yoon last night came out of nowhere.
But inside South Korea, politicians such as Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Min-seok recently warned of this very event:
This August Kim reportedly told a Supreme Council meeting: “I have well-founded reasons to believe that the conservative Yoon administration is drawing up a contingency plan to declare martial law.”
Concerns had grown after several key military positions, related to defence, counterintelligence, and information on North Korea had been filled by individuals who graduated from the same school as the president.
Opposition figures such as Kim suggested these figures could play a critical role in enforcing martial law in a contingency.
In September Kim held a press conference reiterating his fears.
Jamie Doucette, a lecturer from Manchester University, who focuses on developments in South Korea told the Guardian that many dismissed the claims at the time.
“Kim warned that Yoon might create a situation in which he could easily declare martial law, using the pretext of a public security situation created by ‘pro–North Korean forces,’” he said.
“I think it was easy for many to ignore Kim’s warning. For Yoon frequently uses this type of red-baiting language,” he added.
Yoon’s August 2023 Liberation Day speech, for example, declared that the ‘the forces of communist totalitarianism have always disguised themselves as democracy activists, human rights advocates, or progressive activists while engaging in despicable and unethical tactics and false propaganda”.
On Wednesday morning though, it was clear Kim’s warnings were prescient.
Even Korea’s deeply conservative Choson Ilbo newspaper declared that “Kim Min-seok was right”.
For the last month, students and professors at universities across the country had also been issuing statements condemning Yoon and calling for his impeachment, noted Doucette.
“So, there was a sense that something was up,” said Doucette, “But perhaps the episode raises the question of why more people didn’t see it coming or weren’t effectively listened to.”
Updated
President Yoon's own aides offer to resign "en masse"
Senior aides working for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol offered to resign en masse on Wednesday, the Yonhap news agency reported, after Yoon declared and then revoked martial law overnight.
“Yoon’s senior aides offer to resign en masse over martial law declaration,” Yonhap said, without giving further details.
The president’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP about the report.
US Secretary of State responds to Yoon's martial law move
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday welcomed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s decision to lift martial law just hours after he imposed it, as reported by AFP.
“We welcome President Yoon’s statement that he would rescind the order declaring emergency martial law in accordance with the ROK Constitution, after the National Assembly’s unanimous vote to reject the declaration,” Blinken said, using the acronym for South Korea’s formal name.
“We continue to expect political disagreements to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.”
Updated
President Yoon faces growing discontent in parliament
President Yoon Suk Yeol, a member of the conservative People Power party, is two years into his single five-year term as president, meaning he can not run again.
But his term could end much earlier.
The main opposition Democratic party has said it will attempt to impeach Yoon if he refuses to step down.
Opposition parties together control 192 seats, so would need lawmakers from Yoon’s own party to join them to attain the required two-thirds majority in the legislature.
“We will not sit idly by and watch President Yoon’s crime of destroying the constitution and trampling on democracy,” the Democratic party said. “President Yoon should immediately resign voluntarily.”
If the national assembly votes to impeach Yoon, the decision must then be upheld by at least six out of nine judges on the country’s constitutional court.
If he is removed from office, Yoon would become only the second South Korean president since the country became a democracy to have met that fate. The other was Park Geun-hye, who was removed in 2017. Ironically, Yoon, the then prosecutor general, led the corruption case that precipitated Park’s downfall.
Updated
South Koreans gather to demand President Yoon's removal from power
On the streets of Seoul of Wednesday morning, South Koreans have begun to gather to demand President Yoon Suk Yeol step aside after his sudden, and short-lived declaration of martial law.
Calls are also reportedly mounting from the country’s main opposition Democratic Party, the largest party in the 300-seat national assembly, which has said it will impeach Yoon if he refuses to resign.
Political chaos in South Korea: what comes next?
Hello,
It’s almost 9am in Seoul and if you are just catching up on South Korea being plunged into political turmoil, this explainer about what has unfolded over the past few hours will help you quickly get up to speed.
Updated
South Korea media condemns Yoon's shock martial law move
Hours after the shock declaration in South Korea, newspapers across the political spectrum published scathing editorials about the martial law manoeuvres, says Raphael Rashid, the Guardian’s reporter in Seoul.
The conservative and influential Chosun Ilbo published a searing editorial this morning, which said Yoon’s martial law declaration “severely crossed the line” of acceptable political bounds, and demanded accountability. The editorial said legal requirements weren’t met and called it a “national embarrassment” for a top 10 democracy.
Meanwhile, the left-leaning Hankyoreh’s editorial framed Yoon’s martial law declaration as a “betrayal of the people”, expressing disbelief that “21st century Korea” could see an elected president use the same justification (“anti-state forces plotting insurrection”) as the military junta did 45 years ago. It said that Yoon had “lost the minimum judgment and rationality required of a head of state”.
Largest labour union calls for Yoon to resign
South Korea’s largest umbrella labour union on Wednesday called an “indefinite general strike” until President Yoon Suk Yeol resigned, after he abandoned a short-lived attempt at martial law.
The 1.2 million-member Korean Confederation of Trade Unions accused Yoon of an “irrational and anti-democratic measure”, saying he had “declared the end of (his) own power”.
Ruling party leader calls for those responsible "to be held accountable"
The leader of South Korea’s ruling party has described President Yoon Seok Yeol’s attempt to impose martial law as “tragic”, and called for those involved to be held accountable.
“The president must directly and thoroughly explain this tragic situation,” People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon told reporters in a televised broadcast on Wednesday, adding that “all those responsible must be held strictly accountable”.
Who is President Yoon Suk Yeol?
South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol was elected in 2022 as a conservative political novice promising a tougher line on North Korea.
He has not had an easy ride, taking office with some of the lowest approval ratings of any democratically elected South Korean president.
Those ratings dropped even further to 19% in the latest Gallup poll last week, with many expressing dissatisfaction over his handling of the economy and controversies involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee.
In declaring martial law the South Korean leader accused the opposition of being “anti-state forces” and said he was acting to protect the country from “threats” posed by the North.
Born in Seoul in 1960, Yoon studied law and went on to become a star public prosecutor and anti-corruption crusader, playing an instrumental role in former president Park Geun-hye being convicted of abuse of power.
As the country’s top prosecutor in 2019, he also indicted a top aide of outgoing president Moon Jae-in in a fraud and bribery case that tarnished that administration’s image.
The conservative People Power Party (PPP), in opposition at the time, liked what they saw and convinced Yoon to become their presidential candidate.
He duly won in March 2022, beating Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, but by the narrowest margin in South Korean history.
Yoon was never much loved, and a series of scandals - including his administration’s handling of a deadly Halloween crush of 2022 - have further eroded his popularity.
Critics have blamed Yoon’s administration for food inflation, a lagging economy, and increasing constraints on freedom of speech.
Yoon was earlier this year the subject of a petition calling for his impeachment, which proved so popular the parliamentary website hosting it experienced delays and crashes.
Here’s some more images of the events in Seoul:
Raphael Rashid, our reporter in Seoul, writes that this morning the feeling in South Korea is one of bafflement and sadness.
For the older generation who fought the streets against military dictatorships, martial law equals dictatorships, not 21st century Korea. The younger generation is embarrassed that he’s ruined their country’s reputation. People are baffled. Also everyone is wondering what his end goal was. Expedited impeachment is the word on people’s lips.
Calls for Yoon to step down appear to be growing. Reuters is reporting Cho Kuk, head of a minor opposition party, met protesters outside parliament and said: “This isn’t over. He put all the people in shock.” He vowed to impeach Yoon by putting together votes from other parties.
Yonhap is reporting that after the lifting of the law, members of the opposition bloc ramped up criticism of Yoon with some even threatening to initiate a motion to impeach the president.
Hwang Un-ha, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, expressed his intention to push for an impeachment motion, lambasting the mobilisation of military personnel following the rare martial law declaration, according to Yonhap.
Speaking at an event with Japan’s ambassador to Washington, US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell, a longtime Asia diplomat, reiterated that the US-South Korea alliance is “ironclad” and the US would “stand by Korea in their time of uncertainty.”
Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said there was no effect on the more than 27,000 US service members based in South Korea. They are not confined to base or under any type of curfew, Ryder said.
The White House said on Tuesday it was relieved that South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol had reversed course over a martial law declaration in the country.
“Democracy is at the foundation of the U.S.-ROK alliance, and we will continue to monitor the situation,” a spokesperson said, referring to South Korea by the initials of its official name, the Republic of Korea.
Meanwhile, the leader of the governing party has told the president to explain his decision to declare martial law.
People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon said in a statement early on Wednesday morning local time: “As the ruling party, we feel deeply sorry to the public.”
In comments reported on CNN, he added: “The president must directly and thoroughly explain this tragic situation. The minister of defense, who recommended this martial law, should be immediately dismissed, and all those responsible must be held strictly accountable.”
Updated
Top figure in Democratic party calls for Yoon to 'step down immediately'
Criticism of Yoon appears to be growing after South Korea’s president reversed an earlier martial law decree. Park Chan-dae, a top figure in the Democratic party, has called on the president to quit.
According to CNN, Park said Yoon must “step down immediately” and “cannot avoid the charge of treason” over his declaration of martial law.
His comments come shortly after the head of a minor opposition party vowed to impeach Yoon.
“He put all the people in shock,” Cho Kuk said. “The president is a dangerous being … threatening democracy and constitution.”
He vowed to impeach Yoon by putting together votes from other parties.
Updated
Analysis: Yoon Suk Yeol's gamble proves foolhardy
In attempting to declare martial law, South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, sought to awaken ghosts that the rest of the country thought had been laid to rest for good.
The last time martial law was declared, in 1980, hundreds of people were killed by the military dictator Chun Doo-hwan, who sent protesters to a concentration camp for “purificatory education”.
In the course of his meteoric rise to power from prosecutor to president, Yoon outraged much of the country by making complimentary remarks about Chun, claiming three years ago that many people thought the general had done well in politics apart from his coup and the crushing of protests …
Yoon’s short-lived declaration of martial law appears to have been a desperate gamble in the face of rock-bottom public popularity – with positive ratings barely over 10% – in the midst of a doctors’ strike and staunch political opposition, increasingly including his own People Power party, whose leader, Han Dong-hoon, said the move was a “wrong move”.
Yoon may have thought that his nostalgia for authoritarianism would resonate with at least some of the South Korean political spectrum, but the unanimous vote in the national assembly to overturn his declaration, including by his own party, suggests he miscalculated. Within hours, he was forced to back down, and martial law was formally lifted after a cabinet meeting.
South Korea’s president completed a dramatic U-turn on an announcement of martial law just hours after announcing it – and following a unanimous vote from MPs against the measure.
You can watch the moment Yoon Suk Yeol announcing that martial law will be lifted here:
My colleagues Amy Hawkins and Raphael Rashid have the full story of the day here:
South Korea’s rightwing president has been forced to back down after he unexpectedly declared martial law only to face unanimous opposition from the national assembly, in the most serious challenge to the country’s democracy since the 1980s.
President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late on Tuesday amid a dispute with opposition parties he accused of pro-North Korean sympathies and anti-state activities.
But after some of the tensest hours in the country’s recent history, Yoon said troops would return to their barracks and the order would be lifted following a cabinet meeting.
The day so far
Right now, it is 6 am local time on Wednesday in South Korea, and here are some key developments from the last few hours, in case you missed it:
The country’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol has now said that he will lift the martial law declaration he had imposed just several hours before.
Yoon also said that troops had withdrawn from the National Assembly.
The lifting of martial law has now been approved by a vote of his cabinet.
The announcement from Yoon came after lawmakers voted unanimously to lift the president’s martial law decree several hours ago, with 190 of its 300 members present.
Many of the protesters who were demonstrating outside the General Assembly all night trickled out of the area, Reuters reports.
Cho Kuk the head of a minor opposition party has vowed to impeach Yoon by putting together votes from other parties.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions announced that they are going on an “indefinite general strike” until Yoon resigns.
What happened in the hours before that?
This all began Tuesday night local time when Yoon declared an “emergency martial law” during a televised briefing.
He accused the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathising with North Korea and paralysing the government with anti-state activities.
South Korea’s main opposition, the Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, then called on all its lawmakers to meet and assemble at the national assembly.
The country’s military then announced a suspension of all parliamentary activity, and under martial law, political activities are banned, protests are prohibited, and media is censored.
Thousands of protesters gathered outside the general assembly building as police blocked the entrance.
About 190 lawmakers then assembled and voted unanimously to lift the president’s martial law decree.
Here are some more photos from Seoul of the events that have unfolded over the last few hours:
As it approaches 6 am local time in Seoul, a lot of the protesters are trickling out of the Parliament area, Reuters is reporting.
After the announcement that the martial law would be lifted, many protesters left, a reporter on the ground for Reuters said.
Cho Kuk, the head of a minor opposition party, met and spoke with protesters outside the parliament.
“This isn’t over,” he said.
“He put all the people in shock” he added. “The president is a dangerous being … threatening democracy and constitution.”
He vowed to impeach Yoon by putting together votes from other parties.
Updated
Cabinet agrees to lift martial law – report
The cabinet has agreed to lift martial law, according to Yonhap news agency reports.
Updated
South Koreans protesting outside the National Assembly are seen celebrating as Yoon says he will lift martial law.
According to reporters on the ground with Agence France-Presse, moments after South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, announced he would lift the martial law people outside the National Assembly celebrated.
Updated
South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol said that he will lift martial law after he convenes his cabinet for a meeting, which is expected to take place in the next few hours.
Yoon also said that troops had withdrawn from the National Assembly.
Updated
The Pentagon has said that the US and South Korean militaries are “in contact” but noted that there has been no request for assistance from Seoul amid the unfolding events.
Pentagon spokesperson Maj Gen Patrick Ryder stated during a news briefing that he also did not believe the martial law declaration had any significant impact so far on the approximately 28,500 US troops deployed to South Korea.
South Korean President says he will lift martial law
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has announced that he will move to lift a martial law declaration he had imposed just several hours ago.
This comes as lawmakers voted unanimously to lift the president’s martial law decree, with 190 of its 300 members present.
Here’s our short video report of scenes in South Korea following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law, and the subsequent vote by the country’s lawmakers to invalidate his order.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions announced that they are going on an “indefinite general strike” until “the resignation of Yoon Suk Yeol”.
In a post on Facebook, the confederation, which has more than 1 million members, said that they will be holding a Central Executive Committee press conference at 8.00am local time – which is in three and a half hours – and that they “will commence an indefinite general strike until the Yoon Suk Yeol regime steps down”.
The union members will “stop work in accordance with the general strike directive and carry out nationwide emergency action for the abolition of martial law, the resignation of Yoon Suk Yeol for the crime of insurrection, social reform, and the realization of people’s sovereignty” the statement adds.
The statement also said that union members in the capital region will gather at Seoul Gwanghwamun Square at 9.00am local time, and regional members will gather at locations designated by their regional headquarters.
Updated
Here is a video report of when South Korean soldiers were seen early on Wednesday entering the parliament building in Seoul through smashed windows.
It happened shortly after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night, creating the most serious challenge to South Korea’s democracy since the 1980s as lawmakers rejected the move in a vote and protesters gathered outside Parliament.
Updated
The British government said it was “deeply concerned” about the events unfolding in South Korea, and called for a peaceful and lawful resolution to the situation, Reuters reports.
“Our embassy in Seoul continues to monitor developments and is in touch with the Korean authorities,” Catherine West, Britain’s minister for the Indo-Pacific, said.
She urged UK nationals in South Korea to follow her government’s travel advice.
An expert on North Korea who served in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has been telling CNN that South Korea and its allies must watch to see if its neighbor tries to exploit the disorder in Seoul.
Sydney Seiler, also a former US special envoy to the six-party talks on North Korea, told the network that President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law would be watched closely by leaders in Pyongyang:
We need to keep our eyes focused on North Korea and whether they will see an opportunity to exploit this.
This could be the departure point for President Yoon seeking some type of ability to talk with the opposition about how to break through the current deadlock.
A state department spokesperson said the US expects the vote by South Korea lawmakers to invalidate the martial law declaration by President Yoon Suk Yeol will be honored.
“Certainly it is our hope and expectation that the laws and regulations of a particular country are abided by. That does include the National Assembly vote,” Vedant Patel told reporters at a lunchtime briefing.
Updated
Here’s the moment South Korea’s president declared martial law in a surprise late-night announcement. Yoon Suk Yeol said the emergency measure was needed to “defend the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces” and prevent the country from descending into “national ruin”.
Our video editors have put together this clip on the announcement:
Updated
Here are some new photos coming through the wire of the scenes in Seoul outside the National Assembly:
Updated
United Nations officials are watching the situation in South Korea very closely and with concern, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
“The situation is evolving quickly” Dujarric added.
Updated
The Kremlin has called South Korea’s martial law declaration “concerning”, Interfax news agency is reporting.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the agency that “the situation is concerning” adding “we are watching closely.”
US was not given advance notice of South Korean President's declaration of martial law, White House says
The United States was not given advance notice of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law in the country, a White House spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday, adding that Washington is “seriously concerned by the developments there.”
President Joe Biden’s administration is in contact with the South Korean government and is monitoring the situation closely, the spokesperson added.
South Korean military officials say it will maintain martial law until lifted by president
South Korean military officials have said martial law will remain in effect until lifted by President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to local broadcaster YTN, other local media reports and Agence France-Presse, despite the parliament’s vote to lift it.
Updated
Here are some photos of South Korean martial law soldiers recently leaving the National Assembly:
Updated
US Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg says that the US embassy in Seoul and the US Department of State are “closely tracking President Yoon’s recent declaration of martial law.”
“The situation is fluid” Goldberg said in a statement. “Please monitor local news sources for updates as the situation progresses and sign up here to receive direct updates from the Department of State.”
Lawmakers in the National Assembly are still waiting to hear from President Yoon.
More than an hour has passed since 190 lawmakers voted unanimously to lift the president’s martial law decree. It is now 2:40 am in South Korea.
South Korea’s main opposition, the Democratic Party, has called President Yoon’s decision to declare martial law “essentially a coup d’état” and has called for an immediate reversal of the decision.
In a statement reported by Reuters, the party asserted, “The emergency martial law is invalid and illegal, and the president should be held accountable.”
They also said that the declaration of martial law was procedurally invalid as it was made without a cabinet meeting, and the party stated that the current political and social situation does not meet the criteria outlined in the country’s constitution.
President Joe Biden has just told reporters that he is “just getting briefed” on the situation in South Korea.
Biden was asked about the developments in South Korea after giving a speech in Luanda, Angola.
He said he hadn’t heard the details of the situation.
Summary
If you’re just joining us, here is a quick catch up on what has happened so far in South Korea in the last few hours.
Right now, it is 2.30am local time in South Korea, and about 190 of the country’s lawmakers in the National Assembly chamber have just recently voted unanimously to block the president’s declaration of martial law. Meanwhile, outside the building, thousands of people continue to protest against the president.
This all began after South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol declared an “emergency martial law” on Tuesday during a televised briefing.
Yoon accused the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathising with North Korea and paralysing the government with anti-state activities.
South Korea’s main opposition, the Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, then called on all its lawmakers to meet and assemble at the national assembly.
The country’s military announced a suspension of all parliamentary activity. Under martial law, political activities are banned, protests are prohibited and media is censored.
Large crowds of protesters began gathering outside the general assembly building as police blocked the entrance.
Lawmakers that had assembled then voted unanimously to lift the president’s martial law decree, with 190 of its 300 members present.
The chair of the National Assembly then said that the emergency martial law declaration was now “invalid” following the vote by lawmakers for the decree to be lifted.
Just after 2am local time, it was reported that some troops were beginning to withdraw from the main parliamentary building.
Updated
Here are some new photos coming through the wire showing the scenes outside the National Assembly in Seoul:
Martial law troops begin to withdraw from parliament building
It is just after 2am local time in Seoul and CNN is reporting troops are beginning to withdraw from the main parliamentary building, following a unanimous vote by lawmakers in South Korea to block the president’s martial law decree.
Soldiers entered the building not long after the president’s declaration of martial law on Tuesday.
The speaker of the National Assembly also reportedly just stated that South Korean troops are leaving the parliament building, according to the BBC, which cited the Yonhap news agency.
The local Korean newspaper, Chosun Ilbo, is also reporting that some forces are still waiting within the National Assembly grounds, although some appear to have set down their gear, according to CNN.
Protesters remain in a stand-off with the police outside the National Assembly compound
Journalists on the ground are reporting that police are standing at the main gate of the National Assembly in Seoul, while protesters continue to shout and chant.
“We are not here to fight you, we are here to fight Yoon” some protesters are chanting.
The protesters are reportedly in the thousands.
This live video stream from Reuters shows members South Korea’s opposition party protesting outside the National Assembly, chanting.
What does the South Korean constitution say?
South Korea’s constitution states the president has the authority to declare martial law when it is deemed necessary to cope with a military threat or to maintain public safety and order by mobilizing military forces, according to Reuters.
The president’s martial law declaration must be reviewed by the cabinet, and once martial law is declared, the National Assembly must be notified of the decision.
If the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law by a majority vote of its members, the president must comply.
The martial law commander has authority over all administrative and judicial matters and is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the defence minister among active-duty generals. The commander has the power to take actions related to arrests of persons, searches and seizures, speech and the press, and assembly.
Martial law declaration is 'invalid' says National Assembly chairman after vote
Woo Won-sik, the chair of the National Assembly has said that the emergency martial law declaration is “invalid” following the vote by lawmakers for the decree to be lifted, according to CNN.
“The President should immediately lift the emergency martial law following the voting by the National Assembly” Won-sik reportedly said. “Now, emergency martial law declaration is invalid.”
“The people should … rest easy, the National Assembly will defend democracy with the people,” he added.
US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell says that the US is watching recent developments in South Korea with “grave concern”.
“We have every hope and expectation that any political disputes in South Korea will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law,” Campbell said on Tuesday at an event at the US state department.
Updated
The Chinese embassy has urged citizens in South Korea to exercise “caution” and to “remain calm”.
In a statement on Tuesday, China’s embassy in Seoul warned its citizens to exercise “caution” after the imposition of martial law in South Korea.
The embassy advised “Chinese nationals in South Korea to remain calm, monitor developments in South Korea’s political situation, enhance safety awareness, limit unnecessary outings, exercise caution when expressing political opinions.”
Updated
UK government says it is 'closely monitoring’ the situation in South Korea
UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s deputy spokesperson has told reporters that they are “closely monitoring developments in South Korea.”
“We would advise all British nationals to monitor the UK’s travel advice for updates and follow the advice of local authorities,” the spokesperson added.
Updated
The Korean won is down sharply against the US dollar.
A central bank official said it was preparing measures to stabilize the market if needed, according to Reuters. Finance minister Choi Sang-mok has also convened an emergency meeting among top economic officials, his spokesperson told the agency.
Updated
Thousands of people protest outside Parliament
Thousands of people are gathered outside the Parliament and police buses have blocked the main entrance to the Parliament compound, Reuters is reporting.
“Lift martial law, protect democracy” protesters are reportedly chanting. Some are also chanting “impeach President Yoon.”
Updated
Lawmakers in South Korea vote to lift the martial law decree
South Korea’s Parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, just passed a motion requiring the martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol to be lifted.
All 190 lawmakers present voted to lift the measure, according to CNN.
Updated
Here are some of the photos that are being filed from the ground in South Korea right now:
Here is a statement from speaker Woo Won-shik’s office:
Dear citizens, this is the speaker of the national assembly. In response to the president’s declaration of martial law, the national assembly will take appropriate measures in accordance with constitutional procedures.
We ask the citizens to trust the national assembly and calmly observe the situation. All members of the national assembly are requested to convene in the main assembly hall immediately.
In particular, we urge military and police forces to remain calm and maintain their positions.
Here is a video of opposition MPs gathering outside the parliament in Seoul. There is a substantial police presence outside the assembly in the Yeongdeungpo district in the South Korean capital:
What is the political context surrounding the president's surprise declaration of martial law?
The Agence France-Presse news agency has this report:
The surprise move comes as Yoon Suk-Yeol’s People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party continue to bicker over next year’s budget bill. Opposition MPs last week approved a significantly downsized budget plan through a parliamentary committee.
The opposition has slashed approximately 4.1tn won ($2.8bn) from Yoon’s proposed 677tn won budget plan, cutting the government’s reserve fund and activity budgets for Yoon’s office, the prosecution, police and the state audit agency.
“Our National Assembly has become a haven for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship that seeks to paralyse the judicial and administrative systems and overturn our liberal democratic order,” Yoon said.
Yoon, a former prosecutor, accused opposition lawmakers of cutting “all key budgets essential to the nation’s core functions, such as combatting drug crimes and maintaining public security... turning the country into a drug haven and a state of public safety chaos.”
The president went on to label the opposition, which holds a majority in the 300-member parliament, as “anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime”.
Yoon described the imposition of martial law as “inevitable to guarantee the continuity of a liberal South Korea,” adding that it would not impact the country’s foreign policy.
“I will restore the country to normalcy by getting rid of anti-state forces as soon as possible,” he said, without elaborating further other than the martial law in place.
He described the current situation as South Korea “on the verge of collapse, with the national assembly acting as a monster intent on bringing down liberal democracy”.
White House 'closely monitoring' situation in South Korea after martial law declared
The White House has said it is “closely” monitoring the situation in South Korea.
“The administration is in contact with the ROK government and is monitoring the situation closely,” a spokesperson for the national security council said, using the official acronym for the Republic of Korea, where thousands of US troops are based as parts of efforts to deter nuclear-armed North Korea.
In October, Washington and Seoul agreed on a new five-year plan on sharing the cost of keeping American troops in South Korea. Donald Trump, who will re-enter the White House in January, had during his presidency accused South Korea of “free-riding” on US military might, and demanded that it pay as much as $5bn a year for the US deployment.
Political activities banned, protests prohibited and media censored under martial law
Here is a statement from martial law commander Park An-su.
He said:
All political activities are banned in South Korea following the imposition of martial law on Tuesday and all media will be subject to government monitoring.
All political activities, including those of the national assembly, local councils, political parties, and political associations, as well as assemblies and demonstrations, are strictly prohibited.
All media and publications shall be subject to the control of the martial law command.
With martial law imposed, all military units in the south, which remains technically at war with the nuclear-armed north, have been ordered to strengthen their emergency alert and readiness postures, Yonhap news agency reported. Under South Korean law, lawmakers cannot be arrested by the martial law command and the government has to lift martial law if most of the national assembly demands it in a vote. The leader of the prime minister’s own conservative party, Han Dong-hoon, has vowed to stop the imposition of the law “with the people” and Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition Democratic party, which has a majority in parliament, has also expressed opposition to it.
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Those who 'violate martial law' can reportedly be arrested without warrant
Following the martial law announcement, South Korea’s military proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” would be suspended, according to Yonhap news agency, which is reporting that people who violate martial law can be arrested without warrant.
The military also said that the country’s striking doctors should return to work within 48 hours, the news agency reported. Thousands of doctors have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical schools.
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Here are some of the latest images coming from the newswires out of Seoul, South Korea’s capital city:
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South Korea’s main opposition, the Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, has called on all its lawmakers to assemble at the national assembly, the Yonhap news agency is reporting. This is despite the entrance to parliament reportedly being blocked.
“President Yoon declared emergency martial law for no reason,” Lee Jae-myung, who has branded the declaration unconstitutional, said. “Tanks, armored vehicles and soldiers with guns and swords will soon control the country.” The last time martial law was declared in South Korea was in 1979, after the assassination of the then South Korean dictator Park Chung-hee, who had seized power in a military coup in 1961.
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The US, south Korea’s most powerful ally, has not yet commented on the martial law declaration. About 28,500 American troops are stationed in south Korea to guard against north Korea, led by Kim Jong Un.
Military announces suspension of all parliamentary activity - report
The Yonhap News Agency is reporting that members of the national assembly have been banned from entering the building, with the South Korean military having reportedly announced the suspension of all parliamentary activity. We have not yet independently verified this information. The parliament speaker is traveling to parliament and plans to convene a session, according to local broadcaster YTN TV.
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A spokesperson for the finance ministry says South Korea’s most senior economy officials will hold a meeting now (11:40pm local time; 1440 GMT), according to Reuters. We will bring you the latest as soon as we get it.
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It wasn’t immediately clear how Yoon’s step would affect the country’s governance and democracy. The move drew immediate opposition from politicians, including the leader of his own conservative party, Han Dong-hoon, who called the decision “wrong” and vowed to “stop it with the people”.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, called Yoon’s announcement “illegal and unconstitutional”.
“Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the depths of national ruin,” Yoon said during a televised speech, invoking South Korea’s formal name.
“I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalise the country,” he said, while asking the people to believe in him and tolerate “some inconveniences”.
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South Korea's president declares 'emergency martial law', vowing to 'eradicate pro-North Korean forces'
South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol declared an “emergency martial law” on Tuesday, accusing the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathising with North Korea and paralysing the government with anti-state activities.
Yoon made the announcement during a televised briefing, vowing to “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.” It wasn’t immediately clear how the steps would affect the country’s governance and democracy.
Yoon – whose approval rating has dipped in recent months – has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022.
Yoon’s conservative People Power party had been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition Democratic party over next year’s budget bill. He has also been dismissing calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals.
The Democratic party reportedly called an emergency meeting of its lawmakers after Yoon’s announcement.
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