Sharjah 24 – AFP: South Korea's parliament has rejected President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration, which he announced on Tuesday night, marking the country's most significant challenge to its democracy since the 1980s. The decision prompted protests outside parliament and strong opposition from both lawmakers and leaders within Yoon's own party.
Yoon declared martial law, claiming it was necessary to combat political adversaries, but faced vocal opposition from the Speaker of Parliament and his own party's leader, Han Dong-hoon, who has clashed with him over recent controversies. Under South Korean law, martial law must be lifted immediately if parliament votes against it.
Live television footage showed military personnel attempting to enter the National Assembly building, where parliamentary aides confronted them with fire extinguishers. Protesters gathered outside, demanding the withdrawal of martial law and calling for Yoon’s arrest.
Opposition party members denounced the declaration as a "criminal act" and a "coup d'état." Yoon defended the move, accusing opposition parties of holding the parliamentary process hostage, and vowed to dismantle "pro-North Korean anti-state forces."
This marks the first martial law declaration in South Korea since 1980. The declaration prompted concerns in the international community, with the U.S. calling for peaceful resolution in line with the rule of law. South Korea's economy was impacted, with the Korean won falling sharply against the U.S. dollar.
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