Wed Dec 04 13:51:02 UTC 2024: ## South Korean President Scraps Short-Lived Martial Law After Parliament Rejects Decree
**SEOUL** – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly withdrew a nationwide martial law declaration just six hours after its implementation, following unanimous parliamentary rejection. The unprecedented move, the first in nearly 50 years, sparked widespread protests and international concern.
In a 4:30 AM address, President Yoon announced the withdrawal, citing the National Assembly’s demand to lift the state of emergency. A subsequent cabinet meeting formally ended the martial law.
The President’s initial decree, announced late Tuesday night, cited a need to quell “anti-state forces.” This prompted immediate and fierce opposition from lawmakers, who convened an emergency session to denounce the decision, which included bans on political activity and media censorship. Protests erupted outside the National Assembly, leading to clashes with security forces.
The swift reversal comes amidst President Yoon’s declining popularity and his party’s recent electoral defeat, which left the opposition with a supermajority in parliament. While South Korea faces ongoing threats from North Korea, President Yoon offered no specific justification linking the martial law to any imminent external threat.
The brief imposition of martial law sent shockwaves through South Korea and internationally, given the country’s status as a major Asian economy and key US ally, and its long-standing democratic traditions. The South Korean won also experienced a sharp decline before recovering following the martial law’s withdrawal.
First Piper 