Amid President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law, chaos unfolded in the early hours of December 4 as citizens opposing the decree and police forces clashed near the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – In a dramatic turn of events, South Korea’s National Assembly passed a resolution early Wednesday morning to rescind President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law, which had been announced just hours earlier on Tuesday evening. The swift and tense developments have drawn thousands of protesters to the streets.
On Tuesday night, as military personnel from the Capital Defense Command attempted to enter the National Assembly premises by bus, crowds of citizens blocked their advance, chanting “Abolish Martial Law” and singing the national anthem. The gathering swelled to thousands near midnight, creating a highly charged atmosphere.
Military forces deployed to the National Assembly are moving through the surrounding areas. (Yonhap)
Lawmakers, some forced to scale fences to bypass military blockades, convened a late-night session to debate the emergency decree. By 1 a.m. Tuesday, the National Assembly passed the resolution to annul martial law, requiring a majority vote of at least 151 members in the 300-seat legislature.
Despite the passage, the situation outside remained volatile, with protesters clashing with police and military forces while demanding President Yoon’s impeachment.
Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, called for the immediate withdrawal of military and police forces from the parliamentary grounds following the resolution’s passage. However, tensions persisted outside the legislature, where protesters continued their standoff with security forces.
The events mark a significant escalation of political unrest in South Korea, reflecting growing public dissent and a deepening divide between the executive and legislative branches. The resolution’s passage underscores the National Assembly’s efforts to assert its authority amid a rare and controversial declaration of martial law.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
