South Korea: Citizens Outside National Assembly Cheer as Martial Law is Lifted
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Seoul, Dec 4 (NationPress) A crowd of citizens gathered outside the National Assembly erupted in applause and cheers on Wednesday following the South Korean Parliament's decision to revoke martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol in a surprising address just hours prior.
After the Parliament voted in favor of a motion to lift martial law around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, citizens, who were facing off against military and police forces at the main gate of the National Assembly, burst into cheers and celebrated, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
While martial law troops continue to be stationed inside the National Assembly, several military vehicles were also spotted nearby.
Yoon's unexpected martial law declaration late Tuesday created confusion among some citizens, causing them to rush back home.
The main opposition party, the Democratic Party, condemned the President's actions as essentially a coup d'état, arguing that it was illegal and violated the nation's constitution.
In a late-night televised announcement, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law amid tensions with opposition parties he accused of harboring pro-North Korean sentiments and engaging in anti-state activities.
Legislators convened in an emergency session of the National Assembly, where parliamentary aides attempted to prevent armed officers from entering the building, ultimately voting unanimously against Yoon's martial law declaration for the first time since 1980.
Following the vote, Seoul's Defence Ministry stated that it would maintain martial law until further instructions were received from the President, leaving both sides at an impasse as the crisis extended into the early hours of Wednesday without any sign of resolution. South Korean law stipulates that the President must adhere to Parliament's vote to block martial law, but it does not specify a timeframe for compliance.
The declaration of martial law faced immediate backlash from politicians, including the leader of Yoon's conservative People Power Party, Han Dong-hoon, who labeled the decision as wrong and pledged to stop it with the people.
Yoon has a reputation for characterizing his political adversaries as anti-state forces and spreading fake news. Since his administration took office in May 2022, there has been a significant increase in defamation lawsuits against the media. He has also been embroiled in a stalemate with the liberal Democratic Party regarding next year's budget and has faced criticism from political rivals for dismissing calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and senior officials, but there had been no indication that he planned to impose martial law.
A representative from the US National Security Council stated that Washington was not informed beforehand about Yoon's intentions.
“We are seriously concerned by the developments we are witnessing on the ground,” the spokesperson remarked.
In his announcement, Yoon asserted that he had no alternative but to implement such a measure to protect free and constitutional order, claiming that opposition parties had effectively taken the parliamentary process hostage, plunging the nation into crisis.
