South Korea’s president backs down from martial law: What to know

President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea backed away from his surprise declaration of martial law hours after the decision drove thousands of protesters into the streets and prompted calls for him to resign.

The extraordinary declaration, which Yoon said was to counter an opposition that was “trying to overthrow the free democracy,” was the first time a South Korean president had declared martial law since the country’s military dictatorship ended in the late 1980s.

Yoon, who was elected president in 2022, has since been in a near-constant political standoff with the opposition, which controls the National Assembly. Members of the legislature, including those from his own party, voted to repeal the martial law within hours of Yoon’s declaration.

What did the martial law declaration mean?

South Korea’s constitution states that the president may proclaim martial law when “required to cope with a military necessity or to maintain the public safety and order by mobilization of the military forces in time of war, armed conflict or similar national emergency.”

Army Gen. Park An-Su, who was appointed martial law commander by Yoon, banned “all political activities,” including political party activities and citizens’ rallies. “All news media and publications are under the control of martial law command,” Park said.

His edict also banned labor activities and spreading “fake news.” According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, the command ordered all medical staff including trainee doctors, many of whom have been on strike, to return to work in 48 hours. Those who violated the martial law can be arrested without a warrant, the decree said.

Who is Yoon Suk Yeol?

Yoon, a former prosecutor, won an extremely close presidential election in 2022, bringing the country’s conservatives back to power with calls for a more confrontational stance against North Korea and a stronger alliance with the United States. He replaced President Moon Jae-in, a progressive leader who served a single five-year term and by law could not run again.

When Yoon was sworn in to office in May of that year, he vowed to stand for values including freedom and liberal democracy.

Soon after he was elected, however, Yoon began turning to lawsuits, state regulators and criminal investigations to clamp down on speech that he called disinformation, efforts that were largely aimed at news organizations. Police and prosecutors repeatedly raided the homes and newsrooms of journalists whom his office has accused of spreading “fake news.”

In April, Yoon’s People Power Party suffered a stinging defeat in parliamentary elections, giving the opposition a huge majority. He became the first South Korean president in decades to contend with an opposition-controlled National Assembly for his entire time in office.

What happened after Yoon declared martial law?

Han Dong-hoon, the leader of Yoon’s own People Power Party, said the declaration of martial law was “wrong” and that he would “block it,” Yonhap reported.

Lee Jae-myung, the South Korean opposition leader, recorded a video in a car on his way to the National Assembly, asking citizens to congregate there. “There is no reason to declare martial law. We cannot let the military rule this country,” he said. “President Yoon Suk Yeol has betrayed the people.”

South Korean media broadcasts showed soldiers and police officers pushing against citizens trying to enter the National Assembly building as protesters shouted, “End martial law! End martial law!”

How did the martial law end?

Under South Korean law, martial law can be lifted with a majority vote in the parliament. When “the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law, the President shall, without delay, do so and announce it,” the law states.

Live footage from the National Assembly showed that some lawmakers seemed to be holding an emergency meeting held by Woo Won-shik, the speaker of the National Assembly.

Woo later said Yoon’s declaration of martial law had become “null and void” after the assembly adopted a resolution demanding its lifting.

About five hours after the declaration, Yoon said he would lift the declaration.

Yoon now faces widespread calls to resign. The National Assembly can impeach the president if more than two-thirds of its members vote for it. Yoon’s party controls 108 seats in the 300-member legislature.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

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