December 4, 2024
Seoul – South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol acknowledged the National Assembly’s demand to lift martial law on Wednesday morning and promised to chair a cabinet meeting immediately, acknowledging that his unexpected martial law order would be short-lived.
“I will immediately accept the National Assembly's request and lift martial law through the cabinet,” Yun said in a nationally televised address around 4:20 a.m.
“I immediately convened the cabinet, but because it was too early, a quorum was not yet reached. … Once a quorum is reached, I will lift martial law.
Six hours ago, the conservative leader declared martial law at around 10:20 pm on Tuesday “with a firm will to save the country”, banning gatherings, associations, publishing and political activities nationwide from 11 pm
All 190 members present at the 300-member National Assembly voted against President Yoon's declaration of martial law around 1 a.m. Wednesday. The Liberal Party, which includes the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, controls a majority of seats in the National Assembly.
His unexpected decision narrowly won the support of the ruling People's Power party. Its leader, Han Dong-hun, said late Tuesday that things “went wrong” after Yoon declared martial law.
According to the constitution, South Korea's president has the power to declare martial law and mobilize the military in the event of war, armed conflict or similar national emergencies. However, the Head of State should comply with the demands of the National Assembly to lift martial law.
In an earlier speech declaring martial law, Yoon described opposition lawmakers as a “pro-North Korea, anti-state force,” condemned their attempts to impeach ministers and prosecutors, sought special investigations into him and his wife, Kim Gun-hee, and the general election. Most people have recently cut state budgets.
Yoon also said that armed forces deployed to the National Assembly – apparently to dissolve the assembly and arrest some opposition lawmakers – withdrew minutes before he was to deliver his speech.
But Yin urged parliament to stop repeated impeachment attempts, legislative manipulation and budget abuses that have “paralyzed state functions”.
