SEOUL — South Korea’s parliament voted unanimously on Tuesday to overturn President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sudden declaration of martial law, hours after his late-night television address sparked widespread controversy.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik confirmed the decision, declaring that lawmakers “will protect democracy with the people.” Under South Korea’s constitution, the president must lift martial law if the National Assembly demands it through a majority vote.
President Yoon had justified the declaration as a measure to safeguard the constitutional order, accusing opposition parties of paralysing the government and plunging the country into crisis. In his address, Yoon vowed to eliminate “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces” but offered no evidence of an imminent external threat.
Critics have accused Yoon of using martial law as a political tool against his domestic opponents rather than addressing any legitimate danger from North Korea. The move drew comparisons to South Korea’s authoritarian past, where martial law was used to suppress dissent, most notably during pro-democracy protests in 1980.
Following the parliamentary vote, soldiers deployed to the National Assembly withdrew from the site, marking an end to the brief period of military oversight. The incident has raised questions about the political stability of the nation, which has been a democracy for over four decades.
Yoon’s declaration and parliament’s swift reversal highlight deep divisions in South Korea’s political landscape. Opposition parties reaffirm their commitment to democratic governance despite heightened tensions.
