12 Hours of turmoil in South Korea: Martial law declared, overturned, and lifted—A Dramatic Timeline
South Korea faced intense political turmoil late Tuesday when the National Assembly overturned President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration. The emergency late-night vote saw 190 lawmakers unanimously reject the decree, which President Yoon had announced hours earlier to combat “anti-state” forces. The move marked South Korea’s first martial law declaration since 1980.
Thousands of protesters rallied outside the National Assembly, clashing with security forces as tanks and armed troops briefly surrounded the Parliament. Footage showed soldiers securing the area while police blocked attempts to breach the premises. Demonstrators chanted against martial law, calling it an attack on democracy.
The martial law decree had suspended political activities, allowed warrantless arrests, and imposed strict media controls. Civil society groups and opposition leaders immediately condemned it as unconstitutional. Inside the Assembly, the Democratic Party mobilized against what they called a political coup. The unanimous vote invalidated the decree, forcing troops to withdraw and ending the crisis.
Protesters celebrated outside Parliament, chanting “we won” as the Speaker declared the law invalid. President Yoon faced mounting pressure, even from his party, to roll back the decision. Under South Korean law, martial law must be lifted if Parliament votes against it.
International reactions added to the pressure. US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell urged peaceful resolution, while former Foreign Minister Kyung-wha Kang called the decree unjustified and damaging to Yoon’s credibility. Kang expressed relief over Parliament’s swift action to overturn it.
The chaos rattled South Korea’s economy, with the won plunging against the dollar after Yoon’s surprise announcement. The President’s ongoing struggles with a Parliament dominated by opposition parties have heightened tensions since his 2022 election.
This dramatic reversal highlights the resilience of South Korea’s democratic institutions amid one of its gravest political crises.
