SEOUL, Dec 4 : South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol lifted the emergency martial law early Wednesday, following a vote in the National Assembly calling for its end. The decision came approximately six hours after Yoon’s surprise declaration, which he justified by accusing the opposition of “paralyzing” the government with “anti-state” activities.
The National Assembly’s pushback and growing domestic concerns, as well as international reactions, led to the Cabinet approving the motion to end martial law enforcement at 4:30 a.m. The Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that troops, who had been mobilized to enforce the law, returned to their bases, restoring a sense of normalcy.
In his statement, Yoon reiterated his justification for the martial law declaration, aimed at countering forces attempting to paralyze the nation’s functions and constitutional order. However, following the lifting of martial law, opposition members sharply criticized Yoon’s actions, with some threatening to pursue impeachment proceedings against him.
The move also drew concern from the United States, which expressed “grave concern” over the political drama unfolding in South Korea. US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell called for a peaceful resolution of political disputes, underscoring the importance of maintaining the rule of law. While expressing support for the South Korea-US alliance, he urged the resolution of tensions peacefully.
