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Legislators Defy Martial Law Declaration After South Korean President Vows To ‘Eradicate Pro-North Korean Forces’

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JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images

Robert McGreevy Reporter
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Chaos erupted in South Korea as the country’s parliament unanimously overturned President Yoon Suk Yeol’s emergency martial law declaration Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

Hours after President Yoon’s declaration, which included a ban on all political activities and government monitoring on all media, parliament voted 190-0 to overturn the martial law, calling it “invalid,” according to The Associated Press (AP).


The dramatic vote appeared to take place with the backdrop of South Korean special forces attempting to break through makeshift barricades that members of parliament had apparently put in place to prevent the forces from stopping the vote.

Citizens also appeared to defy the martial law, gathering in front of the National Assembly and physically confronting police and military forces, according to The AP.


Police and military left the grounds after National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declared the martial law invalid, adding that lawmakers “will protect democracy with the people,” The AP reported.

When President Yoon declared martial law, he claimed his political opposition was “sympathizing with North Korea” as he spoke of “anti-state activities.”

“I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country,” he announced, adding that he would “eradicate pro-North Korean forces.”

Hours after Parliament’s vote, President Yoon lifted martial law and announced he was withdrawing troops, according to multiple reports.


While President Yoon did appear to have the support of his Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, according to Korean outlet YNA, he had very little support within the government.

He received pushback within his own conservative People Power party. Party leader Han Dong-hoon called the decision “wrong” and said he would “stop it with the people,” according to PBS.

Yoon’s declaration was the first martial law imposed in South Korea since the country became a Democracy in 1987,. (RELATED: Congress Applauds South Korean President For Condemning ‘Disinformation’)

Critics of President Yoon casted the imposition as a cynical political calculation. Yoon, who narrowly won his election in 2022, has a 19 percent approval rate and his party just suffered a legislative defeat in parliamentary elections, according to the Financial Times.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - DECEMBER 03: In this handout image provided by South Korean Presidential Office, South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol speaks during the declaration of emergency martial law at the Presidential Office on December 03, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law on Tuesday, accusing the opposition of "anti-state activities plotting rebellion." South Korean Presidential Office via Getty Images

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – DECEMBER 03: In this handout image provided by South Korean Presidential Office, South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol speaks during the declaration of emergency martial law at the Presidential Office on December 03, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law on Tuesday, accusing the opposition of “anti-state activities plotting rebellion.” South Korean Presidential Office via Getty Images

These factors led commentator Matt Kim to speculate that the martial law was “a last ditch effort to implement his plan to remove corruption and eradicate deep state.”


Kim also noted that he believed invoking North Korean influence was a common trend in South Korean politics.

“North Korea has nothing to do with the this. This is super common in South Korea; to blame any action on the North to justify extreme action. This is well known and understood in Korea,” Kim wrote.

South Korean parliament has the authority to reverse a declaration of martial law via their constitution, according to the Financial Times.

Things have appeared to simmer down after the military retreated, according to multiple outlets. Han Dong-hoon declared that “Martial law has lost its effect.”

“So from this moment on, all state institutions exercising physical force, including the military and police of the Republic of Korea, are obligated not to follow unlawful or unfair instruction,” Dong-hoon wrote on social media.

TOPSHOT - A man holds the South Korea flag outside the National Assembly in Seoul on December 4, 2024, after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law. South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3 declared emergency martial law, saying the step was necessary to protect the country from "communist forces" amid parliamentary wrangling over a budget bill. ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images

TOPSHOT – A man holds the South Korea flag outside the National Assembly in Seoul on December 4, 2024, after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3 declared emergency martial law, saying the step was necessary to protect the country from “communist forces” amid parliamentary wrangling over a budget bill. ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images

While the military has withdrawn, many South Koreans remain outside the national assembly chanting for President Yoon to be removed or imprisoned, according to multiple social media videos.

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