South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faced intense political backlash after declaring martial law on Tuesday night, only to rescind the order hours later. The surprise move, intended to counter “anti-state forces” among his domestic opponents, triggered widespread condemnation and calls for his resignation or impeachment.
Lawmakers swiftly voted down the decree, with 190 out of 300 members rejecting it, including many from Yoon’s own party. Under South Korean law, parliament’s majority vote compelled the immediate reversal of martial law. By early Wednesday, Yoon’s cabinet confirmed the decree was officially scrapped.
Protesters gathered outside the National Assembly, celebrating the reversal with chants and drums. The opposition Democratic Party (DP) called Yoon unfit to govern, with senior DP lawmaker Park Chan-dae accusing him of treason and demanding his resignation.
Yoon’s martial law declaration would have banned political activity, censored media, and placed parliament under military control. Helmeted soldiers briefly attempted to enter the National Assembly, but staff pushed them back using fire extinguishers. The move caused significant alarm domestically and internationally, including from the White House, which expressed relief at Yoon’s reversal.
The crisis marked the first martial law declaration in South Korea since 1980. Although Yoon cited domestic political threats as justification, the situation raised concerns about political instability in a country that has been a democracy since the 1980s.
The political turmoil also impacted financial markets. South Korea’s currency, the won, rebounded from a two-year low, while ETFs linked to South Korean stocks recovered losses after Yoon’s retreat.
Yoon, who narrowly won the 2022 presidential election, has struggled with low approval ratings, recently hovering around 20%. His People Power Party suffered a significant defeat in April’s parliamentary elections, losing control to the opposition.
The political uncertainty raises the possibility of early elections, with analysts warning of potential advantages for North Korea amid South Korea’s instability. Danny Russel, a former U.S. diplomat, noted the crisis could embolden North Korea while damaging South Korea’s global reputation.
South Korea has experienced over a dozen instances of martial law since its establishment in 1948, but this latest episode has deepened divisions and raised questions about Yoon’s leadership.
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