The opposition Democratic Party has called on President Yoon Suk Yeol to quit after his short-lived imposition of martial law.
Martial law was declared in South Korea in surprise late-night broadcast, but it was overturned hours later by the parliament.
On Tuesday night, Yoon abruptly imposed emergency martial law, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces after he struggled to advance his agenda in the opposition-dominated parliament. But his martial law was effective for about six hours, as the National Assembly voted to overrule him. The declaration was formally lifted around 4.30am during a cabinet meeting.
Yoon’s martial law declaration harked back to the era of military-backed governments between 1948 and 1987, when authorities occasionally proclaimed martial law and other decrees that allowed them to station combat soldiers, tanks and armoured vehicles on streets or at public places such as schools to prevent anti-government demonstrations. Such scenes had not been seen since South Korea achieved a genuine democracy in the late 1980s.
The constitution also states that the president must oblige when the National Assembly demands the lifting of martial law with a majority vote. “As a close partner and friend of the Republic of Korea, we hope for a democratic and peaceful resolution for the Korean people,” the spokesperson said.South Korea’s currency, the won, fell sharply against the US dollar, and a central bank official said it was preparing measures to stabilise the market if needed.
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