South Korean President Lifts Martial Law Hours after Declaration

South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol lifted martial law just over six hours after declaring it late Tuesday, citing efforts to counter "anti-state forces" threatening the nation’s democratic order.

The decision came after mounting opposition from parliament and public protests.

In his announcement, President Yoon stated, "At 11 o'clock in the evening, I declared martial law with the determination to confront the anti-state forces that are trying to paralyze the basic functions of the state and destroy the constitutional order of liberal democracy." He added that the National Assembly's resolution to cancel martial law would be acted upon through the Council of Ministers, pending a quorum for the decision.

Parliament swiftly passed a resolution to abolish martial law, warning the military of legal consequences if enforcement continued. Following this, Special Forces ceased their assault on the parliamentary building, which had begun under the president's orders.

The initial imposition of martial law saw security forces issuing arrest warrants for opposition leaders and the speaker of parliament, exacerbating tensions. Protesters, demanding President Yoon’s impeachment, rallied in response to what many viewed as an overreach of executive power.

The Republic of Korea's military had earlier stated that martial law would remain effective until lifted by presidential order. However, faced with domestic and political resistance, President Yoon canceled the state of emergency, urging parliament to cease actions that "paralyze the functioning of the state through repeated impeachments."

President Yoon's declaration of martial law has sparked widespread protests and condemnation in South Korea. In response, opposition lawmakers are set to propose an impeachment bill against Yoon on Wednesday, according to reports. Although Yoon later rescinded the martial law declaration, the fallout continues, with his chief of staff and senior secretaries offering to resign en masse.