South Korea Lofts Martial Law; Opposition Demands Resignation Or Impeachment For The President
Seoul, South Korea: South Korea lifts martial law just hours after imposing it. The decision to end the move that came as surprise to the nation and its allies came after a tense night of political upheaval, with troops surrounding the National Assembly in an attempt to quash opposition to the president’s controversial move.
The martial law declaration, which lasted for less than six hours, was formally rescinded during a Cabinet meeting around 4:30 am, after a unanimous vote by lawmakers in the National Assembly to reject it. Following the vote to lift martial law, the opposition was emboldened, with some members from President Yoon Suk Yeol’s own People Power Party (PPP) siding with the rejection.
Yoon made a shocking announcement on Tuesday night, declaring martial law in a televised address. The unexpected decision, the first since 1980, aims to combat what Yoon described as “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces.” Yoon stated that the move was necessary to preserve South Korea’s constitutional order amid political tensions with the opposition Democratic Party.
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He said the imposition of martial law was aimed at safeguarding a “liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements”. The declaration has sent shockwaves through the nation, with fears of democratic backsliding in a country that transitioned to democracy in the 1980s. The Korean won fell sharply against the U.S. dollar, raising economic concerns.
Under the martial law decree, political gatherings can be suspended, press freedom curbed and military will be granted powers to arrest individuals without warrants.
Yoon now face demand for his resignation and threats of impeachment. Demonstrations are taking place outside South Korea’s National Assembly. According to the president’s office, the chief of staff and more than 10 senior secretaries to the president have submitted their resignations, CNN reported. Yoon has yet to respond to the demand.
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Opposition Democratic Party said, “Yoon’s declaration of martial law is a clear violation of the Constitution”. In a resolution issued after the an emergency meeting at the National Assembly, the party described Yoon’s actions as a “serious act of rebellion” and “a perfect reason for impeachment, according to the state-funded Yonhap News Agency.
