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| Why South Korea's president suddenly declared martial law | Why South Korea's president suddenly declared martial law |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police stand guard at the gate of the National Assembly after South Korea's president declared martial law | Police stand guard at the gate of the National Assembly after South Korea's president declared martial law |
| Under mounting political pressure, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday night declared martial law in the democratic country for the first time in nearly 50 years. | |
| His late-night pronouncement, made on national TV at 23:00 local time (14:00 GMT), mentioned national security and the threat from North Korea, but it soon became clear Yoon had made this drastic move in response to a series of political setbacks. | His late-night pronouncement, made on national TV at 23:00 local time (14:00 GMT), mentioned national security and the threat from North Korea, but it soon became clear Yoon had made this drastic move in response to a series of political setbacks. |
| He was driven to the point of invoking martial law - temporary rule by the military - as a tactic to fend off the political attacks, observers say. | He was driven to the point of invoking martial law - temporary rule by the military - as a tactic to fend off the political attacks, observers say. |
| But it triggered immediate protests outside parliament and lawmakers voted down the measure, which they said was illegal, within hours. | But it triggered immediate protests outside parliament and lawmakers voted down the measure, which they said was illegal, within hours. |
| Follow what is happening in South Korea live | Follow what is happening in South Korea live |
| What is martial law and why has it been declared? | What is martial law and why has it been declared? |
| Watch: Moment president declares marital law | Watch: Moment president declares marital law |
| How did it unfold? | How did it unfold? |
| After referring to the opposition's political attacks, President Yoon on Tuesday night said he was declaring martial law to "crush anti-state forces that have been wreaking havoc". | After referring to the opposition's political attacks, President Yoon on Tuesday night said he was declaring martial law to "crush anti-state forces that have been wreaking havoc". |
| That put the military in charge temporarily - triggering the deployment of troops and police to parliament where helicopters were seen landing on the National Assembly's roof. | That put the military in charge temporarily - triggering the deployment of troops and police to parliament where helicopters were seen landing on the National Assembly's roof. |
| The military also issued a decree banning protests and activity by parliament and political groups, and putting media under government control. | |
| But South Korea's political opposition immediately called Yoon's declaration illegal and unconstitutional. The leader of Yoon's own party, the conservative People's Power Party, also called his act "the wrong move". | But South Korea's political opposition immediately called Yoon's declaration illegal and unconstitutional. The leader of Yoon's own party, the conservative People's Power Party, also called his act "the wrong move". |
| Meanwhile, main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung called on his Democratic Party MPs to converge on the parliament to vote down the declaration. | Meanwhile, main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung called on his Democratic Party MPs to converge on the parliament to vote down the declaration. |
| He also called on ordinary South Koreans to show up at parliament in protest. | He also called on ordinary South Koreans to show up at parliament in protest. |
| "Tanks, armoured personnel carriers and soldiers with guns and knives will rule the country... My fellow citizens, please come to the National Assembly.” | "Tanks, armoured personnel carriers and soldiers with guns and knives will rule the country... My fellow citizens, please come to the National Assembly.” |
| Hundreds heeded the call, rushing to gather outside the heavily- guarded parliament. Crowds of protesters chanted: "No martial law! No martial law." | Hundreds heeded the call, rushing to gather outside the heavily- guarded parliament. Crowds of protesters chanted: "No martial law! No martial law." |
| Local media broadcasting from the site showed some scuffles between protesters and police at the gates. But despite the heavy military presence, the tensions did not escalate into violence. | Local media broadcasting from the site showed some scuffles between protesters and police at the gates. But despite the heavy military presence, the tensions did not escalate into violence. |
| And lawmakers were also able to make their way around the barricades to get into the parliamentary voting chambers. | And lawmakers were also able to make their way around the barricades to get into the parliamentary voting chambers. |
| Shortly after 01:00 Wednesday local time, South Korea's parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, voted down the measure. President Yoon's declaration of martial law was ruled invalid. | Shortly after 01:00 Wednesday local time, South Korea's parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, voted down the measure. President Yoon's declaration of martial law was ruled invalid. |
| South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declaring martial law in a national address on Tuesday night | |
| How significant is martial law? | How significant is martial law? |
| Martial law is temporary rule by military authorities in a time of emergency, when civil authorities are deemed unable to function. | Martial law is temporary rule by military authorities in a time of emergency, when civil authorities are deemed unable to function. |
| The last time it was declared in South Korea was in 1979, when the country's then long-term military dictator Park Chung-hee was assassinated during a coup. | The last time it was declared in South Korea was in 1979, when the country's then long-term military dictator Park Chung-hee was assassinated during a coup. |
| It has never been invoked since the country became a parliamentary democracy in 1987. | It has never been invoked since the country became a parliamentary democracy in 1987. |
| But on Tuesday, Yoon pulled that trigger, saying in a national address he was trying to save South Korea from "anti-state forces". | But on Tuesday, Yoon pulled that trigger, saying in a national address he was trying to save South Korea from "anti-state forces". |
| Yoon, who has taken a noticeably more hardline stance on North Korea than his predecessors, described the political opposition as North Korea sympathisers - without giving any evidence. | Yoon, who has taken a noticeably more hardline stance on North Korea than his predecessors, described the political opposition as North Korea sympathisers - without giving any evidence. |
| Under martial law, extra powers are given to the military and there is often a suspension of civil rights for citizens and rule of law standards and protections. | Under martial law, extra powers are given to the military and there is often a suspension of civil rights for citizens and rule of law standards and protections. |
| South Korea's parliament met shortly after Yoon's declaration to block the martial law measure | South Korea's parliament met shortly after Yoon's declaration to block the martial law measure |
| What has fired up the opposition? | What has fired up the opposition? |
| Yoon was voted into office in May 2022, but has been a lame duck president since April when the opposition won a landslide in the country's general election. | Yoon was voted into office in May 2022, but has been a lame duck president since April when the opposition won a landslide in the country's general election. |
| His government since then has not been able to pass the bills they wanted and have been reduced instead to vetoing bills passed by the opposition. | His government since then has not been able to pass the bills they wanted and have been reduced instead to vetoing bills passed by the opposition. |
| He has also seen a fall in voter standing, having been mired in several corruption scandals - including one involving the First Lady accepting a Dior bag, and another around stock manipulation. | He has also seen a fall in voter standing, having been mired in several corruption scandals - including one involving the First Lady accepting a Dior bag, and another around stock manipulation. |
| Just last month he was forced to issue an apology on national TV, saying he was setting up an office overseeing the First Lady's duties. But he rejected a wider investigation, which opposition parties had been calling for. | Just last month he was forced to issue an apology on national TV, saying he was setting up an office overseeing the First Lady's duties. But he rejected a wider investigation, which opposition parties had been calling for. |
| Then this week, the opposition proposed slashing budgets for his government - and budget bills cannot be vetoed. | Then this week, the opposition proposed slashing budgets for his government - and budget bills cannot be vetoed. |
| At the same time, the opposition also moved to impeach cabinet members and several top prosecutors- including the head of the government's audit agency - for failing to investigate the First Lady. | At the same time, the opposition also moved to impeach cabinet members and several top prosecutors- including the head of the government's audit agency - for failing to investigate the First Lady. |
| Many citizens turned out outside parliament on Tuesday night to protest against the sudden martial law declaration. Mass protests are a frequent and common political event in the country. | Many citizens turned out outside parliament on Tuesday night to protest against the sudden martial law declaration. Mass protests are a frequent and common political event in the country. |
| The leader of a key opposition party, the Democrats Party, addressing media after parliament voted down martial law on Wednesday morning | The leader of a key opposition party, the Democrats Party, addressing media after parliament voted down martial law on Wednesday morning |
| What now? | What now? |
| Yoon's declaration caught many off guard - and it has been a fast-moving situation these past hours. | Yoon's declaration caught many off guard - and it has been a fast-moving situation these past hours. |
| But the opposition was able to congregate quickly at parliament and had the numbers to vote down the martial law declaration. | But the opposition was able to congregate quickly at parliament and had the numbers to vote down the martial law declaration. |
| And despite the heavy presence of troops and police in the capital, a takeover by the military has, it seems, not materialised. | And despite the heavy presence of troops and police in the capital, a takeover by the military has, it seems, not materialised. |
| Under South Korean law, the government must lift martial law if a majority in parliament demands it in a vote. | Under South Korean law, the government must lift martial law if a majority in parliament demands it in a vote. |
| The same law also prohibits martial law command from arresting lawmakers. | The same law also prohibits martial law command from arresting lawmakers. |
| It's unclear what happens now. Some of the protesters gathered outside the assembly on Tuesday night had also been shouting: "Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol". | It's unclear what happens now. Some of the protesters gathered outside the assembly on Tuesday night had also been shouting: "Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol". |
| But President Yoon's rash action has stunned the country - which views itself as a thriving, modern democracy that has come far since its dictatorship days. | But President Yoon's rash action has stunned the country - which views itself as a thriving, modern democracy that has come far since its dictatorship days. |
| This is being viewed as the biggest challenge to that democratic society in decades. | This is being viewed as the biggest challenge to that democratic society in decades. |
| As the speaker of parliament said on Wednesday: "We will protect democracy together with the people." | As the speaker of parliament said on Wednesday: "We will protect democracy together with the people." |