SEOUL: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol retracted his shocking pronouncement that martial law would be imposed in the country, stating that troops would be removed, just hours after he had made the news.
“We have removed the military that was deployed for martial law operations in response to a demand made by the National Assembly just a moment ago to lift the state of emergency. In a televised speech on Wednesday, he declared, “We will grant the National Assembly’s request and end martial law through the cabinet meeting.”
Late Tuesday night, Yoon proclaimed martial law, claiming he was defending the nation against “threats” from the North and accusing the opposition of being “anti-state forces.”
However, the National Assembly swiftly decided to deem the startling action “illegal and invalid,” resulting in a standoff with Yoon, who is supported by the military.
Helicopters were observed landing on the top of the National Assembly as it was shut late Tuesday evening.
While hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside parliament chanting, “Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol,” and engaged security personnel manning the facility, troops briefly entered the premises.
Outside parliament, 48-year-old protester Lee Jin-hwa declared, “I had to come here to protect our democracy after I saw reports that soldiers had entered the assembly.”
Early on Wednesday morning, some 190 lawmakers were able to enter the assembly, where they unanimously supported a motion to halt the imposition of martial law and demand its repeal.
When a majority in parliament calls for it, martial law must be lifted in accordance with the constitution.
Martial law justification
President Yoon offered a variety of justifications for his statement, which marked the first martial law declaration in South Korea in over 40 years.
In a live, televised speech to the country, Yoon declared emergency martial law in order to protect a liberal South Korea from the dangers posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eradicate anti-state elements that are robbing people of their freedom and happiness.
Although Yoon did not elaborate on the North’s “threats,” Seoul and nuclear-armed Pyongyang are still technically at war.
Yoon claimed, “Our National Assembly has turned into a sanctuary for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship that aims to overthrow our liberal democratic order and paralyze the judicial and administrative systems.”
According to the Yonhap news agency, all military units in the South were instructed to improve their emergency alert and preparation postures once martial law was declared.
As commander in charge of martial law, Gen. Park An-su of the Army promptly issued an order outlawing “all political activities.”
Additionally, “actions that deny or seek to overthrow the liberal democratic system, including the spread of fake news, public opinion manipulation, and false propaganda” were prohibited by the order.
The opposition, which has a majority in the 300-member parliament, was called “anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime” by the president.
Yoon stated that martial law would not affect the nation’s foreign policy and that it was “inevitable to guarantee the continuity of a liberal South Korea.”
He declared, “I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible in order to return the nation to normalcy.”
“On the verge of collapse, with the National Assembly acting as a monster intent on bringing down liberal democracy,” he said, describing the current state of affairs in South Korea.
“Very concerned”
Democratic The US State Department expressed “severe concern” over the situation, citing South Korea as a key ally in Asia.
Campbell referred to South Korea by its formal name, the Republic of Korea, and stated, “We are watching the recent developments in the ROK with grave concern.”
Britain stated that it was “closely monitoring developments,” while China, a major supporter of North Korea, advised its citizens in the South to remain composed and use prudence.
The budget row
President Yoon’s action was described as “an attempt to wind history back” by Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korea studies at the University of Oslo.
He stated, “I don’t think civil society in South Korea can recognize Yoon as a legitimate president any longer.”
The primary opposition Democratic Party and Yoon’s People Power Party are at conflict over the budget for the upcoming year.
Through a parliamentary committee, opposition MPs last week approved a drastically reduced budget plan.
From Yoon’s proposed 677 trillion won budget plan, the opposition has trimmed around 4.1 trillion won ($2.8 billion), including the government’s reserve fund and activity budgets for the state audit agency, Yoon’s office, the prosecution, and the police.
After Yoon’s popularity rating fell to 19% in the most recent Gallup poll last week, many people expressed discontent with his management of the economy and the scandals surrounding his wife, Kim Keon Hee, leading to the declaration of emergency martial law.
