South Korean Parliament Lifts President Yoon’s Martial Law
South Korean troops outside the National Assembly, Decree 3, 2024. X/ @dwnews
December 3, 2024 Hour: 1:28 pm
Thousands of people protest against a law that seeks to ban all political activity.
During an extraordinary plenary session on Tuesday, South Korea’s National Assembly repealed the martial law declared by President Yoon Suk-yeol.
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Opposition forces passed the repeal of martial law with 190 votes in favor. In accordance with the South Korean Constitution, the parliamentary decision obliges the president to revoke the measure.
The vote took place as thousands of people gathered in front of the National Assembly to protest against the declaration of martial law, while South Korean troops attempted to take over the legislative headquarters under the exceptional measure. Currently, the National Assembly is surrounded by a significant police presence, although no major incidents have been reported so far.
Through martial law, Yoon established a military command that banned all political activities in the country. His troops have entered the National Assembly complex, where citizens have gathered to protest against the measures.
After the emergency martial law was declared, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) chief, Park An-su, who was appointed to lead the military command, announced that the activities of the National Assembly and political parties were prohibited, as well as the organization of protests or demonstrations.
The South Korean president declared martial law to protect the “constitutional order” from alleged “anti-state” activities. Among these, he specifically pointed to the main opposition bloc, the Democratic Party (DP), which Yoon labeled a “pro-North Korea force” during a televised statement.
The attempt to impose martial law came shortly after the Democratic Party passed the 2025 fiscal budget without the support of the President Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP). It also approved motions to dismiss the Attorney General and the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection, the institution responsible for monitoring public agencies’ accounts.
teleSUR/ JF Source: Xinhua
