What the Hell Is Going On in South Korea?

A primer:

10:23 p.m.

President Yoon declares emergency martial law in a televised address.

10:40 p.m.

The main opposition party calls for an emergency parliamentary session. Leader Lee Jae-myung urges all lawmakers to gather at the National Assembly to begin the process of revoking martial law. Ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon, heading to parliament, joins the call for annulment.

11:00 p.m.

Martial law takes effect.

11:14 p.m.

Speaker Woo Won-shik arrives at the Assembly. Other lawmakers continue to arrive, some navigating police barricades.

Around Midnight

The number of lawmakers present exceeds 150, meeting the quorum requirement. The Assembly's main chamber is blocked from the inside. A military helicopter lands on the premises, as a special operations unit arrives.

12:27 a.m.

Armed troops attempt to enter the Assembly building, clashing with lawmakers, aides, and staff.

12:38 a.m.

Some armed troops breach the Assembly's main building.

12:48 a.m.

The plenary session begins.

1:01 a.m.

The motion to revoke martial law is introduced.

:04 a.m.

The motion is passed with unanimous support. The Speaker declares martial law invalid.

From 1:10 a.m. onward

Armed forces leave the Assembly building.

4:26 a.m.

President Yoon Suk Yeol accepts the National Assembly's demand to withdraw the martial law. He promises to convene Cabinet to lift the martial law, but reiterates his call for an immediate halt to "reckless moves" that paralyzed the state.

**

South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol's statement after martial law was lifted:

Last night at 11 p.m., I declared a state of emergency martial law with a determined will to save the nation, in response to anti-state forces that were paralyzing the essential functions of the state and undermining the liberal democratic constitutional order. However, just a moment ago, the National Assembly requested the lifting of martial law, and I have withdrawn the military forces that were deployed for martial law duties.

I will immediately accept the National Assembly's request and lift the martial law through the Cabinet. However, I convened the Cabinet right away, but due to the early hour, the quorum has not yet been met, so I will lift the martial law as soon as the necessary members arrive.

I urge the National Assembly to immediately cease the repeated impeachment attempts, legislative manipulation, and budget abuse that have paralyzed the functions of the state. Thank you.

**

The aftermath:

Han Dong-hoon, chairman of the ruling People Power Party on Wednesday urged South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to immediately dismiss the minister of national defense, who recommended the declaration of martial law.

The former justice minister said all officials accountable for the crisis must face serious consequences, stressing that the president himself should be able to provide a detailed explanation of the situation.

"As the ruling party, we deeply apologize to the public for this distressing situation," he told reporters at the National Assembly.

"We will do our part as the ruling party to minimize the economic and diplomatic damage. We are committed to uncovering the full details of how this situation arose and taking the necessary measures."

The People Power Party plans to hold a closed-door Supreme Council meeting at 7 a.m., followed by a general assembly of lawmakers at 8 a.m., to address the issue.

**

After the opposition-led National Assembly voted to demand the revocation of martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol late Tuesday, airborne troops withdrew from the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, early Wednesday, amidst applause and growing calls from citizens demanding the president’s impeachment.

The martial law declaration, made at 10:30 p.m., sparked immediate public outrage, with hundreds of people assembling at the National Assembly and demanding its repeal.

**

The mess:

Under Yoon, South Korea dropped from 47th to 62nd in the global press freedom index unveiled this year by Reporters Without Borders.

(Sidebar: oh, please!)

 

In some cases he claimed "pro-North Korean" or "anti-state" forces were behind criticism of him - language he used on Tuesday to justify his martial law order.

 

"The forces of communist totalitarianism have disguised themselves as democracy activists, human rights advocates and progressive activists," Yoon said in speech last year.

 

The president's ruling conservative People Power Party suffered a heavy loss in April's general election as the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea took 175 out of the 300 seats in the National Assembly.

 

The Democratic Party, which is in disarray with its leader convicted of election law violations and facing charges of corruption, clashed with Yoon over budgets and investigations into Yoon's wife and top officials.

 

In November, Yoon denied wrongdoing in an influence-peddling scandal involving him and his wife that has driven his approval ratings to record lows.

 

Yoon has also taken a hard line against labour unions, as well as striking doctors who oppose a major healthcare reform plan that would add 2,000 medical students a year to make up what the government says is a severe shortage of physicians.

 

Tuesday's martial law decree ordered those doctors back to work.

 

Yoon's handling of the scandals as well as the doctors' strike led to public rifts with Han Dong-hoon, his former confidant and current leader of Yoon's People Power Party.