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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol walked back his Tuesday declaration of martial law hours after the country’s National Assembly voted to strike down his stunning decree that sparked a constitutional crisis for one of the closest U.S. allies in Asia.
The big picture: Facing pressure from his own party and a vote from the opposition-led legislature to revoke his controversial motion, Yoon said Wednesday he would lift martial law, according to multiple reports.
- After hours of protests and chaos surrounding the parliament complex, Yoon said martial law command forces have withdrawn, per Reuters reporting.
- Per the New York Times’ translation of his early morning address announcing his plans to lift the decree, Yoon said he would lift martial law as soon as a quorum was reached in his cabinet.
- His cabinet approved a motion to end the enforcement of martial law at 4:30 a.m. local time, Yonhap News Agency reported, around six hours after his surprise declaration.
- Still, he called on the National Assembly to “immediately stop the outrageous behavior that is paralyzing the functioning of the country with impeachments, legislative manipulation and budget manipulation.”
Catch up quick: The unicameral National Assembly, where the opposition Democratic Party has a majority, blocked the martial law order, which had suspended all political activity, according to multiple reports.
- Woo Won-shik, speaker of the National Assembly, said Yoon’s declaration had become “null and void” after the assembly adopted its resolution, per the NYT, and he ordered the military and police to leave the compound.
- Of the 300-seat assembly, 190 lawmakers were present. All of them voted in favor of blocking martial law.
- Yoon, who is highly unpopular in South Korea, said in a surprise broadcast that martial law was necessary to defend South Korea from “pro-North Korean” elements and to safeguard the constitutional order.
According to a translation of South Korea’s constitution, the president must notify the National Assembly that he has proclaimed martial law. The legislature can then request for martial law to be lifted with a majority vote.
- The constitution says the president “shall comply” with such a request.
- The Democratic Party called for an emergency meeting following Yoon’s announcement, per the Wall Street Journal, prompting lawmakers to flock to the National Assembly building.
- Per the country’s translated constitution, the declaration and termination of martial law must be referred to the State Council —which includes the president, prime minister and other executive officials — for “deliberation.”
Driving the news: Yoon said in his earlier address: “I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order.”
- He cited steps by the center-left Democratic Party to take over the budget process and to impeach members of his government.
- Gen. Park An-soo, whom Yoon appointed martial law commander, had swiftly banned “all political activities,” including political party activities and citizens’ rallies in a decree, per the NYT.
- It was the first time in 44 years that South Korea was put under martial law.
Friction point: Protests popped up in response to Yoon’s declaration, with demonstrators clashing with police outside the parliament building.
- “Tanks, armored personnel carriers, and soldiers with guns and knives will rule the country,” Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, said in a livestream, per Reuters.
- The leader of Yoon’s party, the People Power Party, condemned Yoon’s move, according to Yonhap News Agency, saying it is “wrong.”
State of play: The U.S. was not notified in advance of Yoon’s announcement, a National Security Council spokesperson tells Axios.
- A U.S. official said President Biden was briefed on the situation while on his trip to Angola.
- President Biden met with Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba last month, where they discussed security in the Indo-Pacific.
- Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a Tuesday briefing that there “has been essentially no impact on U.S. forces” from the martial law declaration and that he is not aware of any indication that North Korea is poised to take action in response to the situation.
Reality check: The opposition may be more dovish on North Korea than Yoon, who has taken a very hard line toward Pyongyang, but it is certainly not pro-North Korea.
- Yoon, then a political newcomer, was inaugurated in 2022 amid growing tension with the north, as Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un vowed to rapidly expand his nuclear arsenal.
- Yoon has struggled against opposition from the Democratic Party-led legislature.
Context: By law, the president may proclaim martial law 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.”
- There are two types: precautionary and extraordinary martial law. Under the latter, “special measures may be taken with respect to the necessity for warrants, freedom of speech, the press, assembly and association, or the powers of the Executive and the Judiciary.”
Flashback: The last time a South Korean leader declared martial law was in 1980, during a mass pro-democracy uprising against military rule.
Go deeper: North Korea sends balloons carrying bags of trash, excrement into South Korea
Axios Middle East correspondent Barak Ravid contributed reporting to this story.
This breaking news story has been updated throughout.