Martial law declared in South Korea, sparking chaosBy Riley Walter
On Tuesday night, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, sending the capital, Seoul, into chaos. Here’s what you need to know:
Photo The Sydney Morning HeraldYoon made the declaration, vowing to eradicate “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces” and said he had no choice but to take the measure to safeguard constitutional order.The country’s National Assembly passed a motion to have the martial law declaration lifted, but it will remain in place until Yoon complies with the vote.Just before 5am local time (7am AEDT), Yoon announced that he would move to lift the martial law declaration at a cabinet meeting “as soon as members arrive”.Tuesday’s move was the first time since 1980 that martial law has been declared in South Korea.Under martial law, South Korea’s military has the authority to suspend parliament and political activities and arrest those protesting the declaration.Shortly after Yoon’s announcement, made on live television, troops enforcing martial law swarmed the National Assembly building in Seoul as protesters gathered outside calling for the declaration to be lifted and for the president to be arrested.The United States is closely monitoring the situation and in contact with the South Korean government, a White House spokesperson said.
Read our full story here.
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8.10am
Martial law in South Korea lifted, MP vows to impeach presidentBy Riley Walter
Martial law in South Korea has been lifted just hours after President Yoon Suk Yeol made the declaration, sparking upheaval in the capital, Seoul, according to local media reports.
Seoul-based news outlet, Yonhap News Agency, reported that South Korea’s national cabinet on Wednesday morning approved a motion to end the martial law declaration about six hours after it was made.
National Assembly staff and troops clashed inside the building.Credit: AP
South Korean troops, mobilised to enforce the declaration, were withdrawn after cabinet met. Yoon backed down from the declaration after protesters gathered calling for the president’s resignation
Photo The Sydney Morning Herald
“I declared emergency martial law at 11 p.m. last night as an act of national resolve against the anti-state forces that are trying to paralyse the essential functions of the state and disrupt the constitutional order of our liberal democracy,” The New York Times reported Yoon as saying earlier on Wednesday morning.
“However, a short time ago, the National Assembly demanded that martial law be lifted, so I withdrew the military forces that had been deployed to carry out martial law. I will lift martial law as soon as we have a quorum in the cabinet. It’s early in the morning, so we don’t have a quorum yet.
“But I call on the National Assembly to immediately stop the outrageous behaviour that is paralysing the functioning of the country with impeachments, legislative manipulation and budget manipulation.”
Cho Kuk, head of a minor opposition party, met protesters outside parliament and said: “This isn’t over. He put all the people in shock.”
He vowed to impeach Yoon by putting together votes from other parties.
Reuters
7.45am
Australians in South Korea warned to stay away from mass gatheringsBy Josefine Ganko
Australians in South Korea should stay away from mass gatherings and listen to official advice amid the unfolding political crisis, says Finance Minister Katy Gallagher.
Gallagher told ABC News Breakfast there was lots of “uncertainty” around President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law, which was walked back early this morning.
People gathered outside the National Assembly building in Seoul protesting the martial law declaration.Credit: Getty Images
She said the government had been briefed by the relevant agencies.
“I think that the best message that we can give on this unfolding situation is for any Australians in South Korea to really listen to official advice and stay away from some of the mass gatherings as we continue to get across and understand the full implications of what’s happened overnight.”
Photo The Sydney Morning Herald
7.20am
In pictures: Seoul descends into chaos after martial law declarationBy Riley Walter
The first declaration of martial law in South Korea in almost 50 years sparked chaos in the country’s capital, Seoul, as thousands gathered to protest the move outside parliament and troops descended on the National Assembly building.
Footage captured by a South Korean media outlet, OhmyTV, shows a woman tussling with a soldier as she attempts to take his gun before being pushed aside.
South Korean troops try to enter the National Assembly building.Credit: Getty Images
Other footage circulating online shows troops smashing windows of the National Assembly building to gain access after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration.
6.52am
Yoon Suk Yeol says martial law declaration will be liftedBy Riley Walter
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says he will soon move to lift the martial law declaration imposed on Tuesday night, honouring a parliamentary vote against the measure.
Yoon said his government had withdrawn military personnel that had been deployed, and that he would formally lift martial law following a cabinet meeting “as soon as members arrive”. It is just before 5am local time in Seoul, South Korea’s capital.
Yoon declared martial law on Tuesday to thwart “anti-state forces” among his opponents. But outraged MPs rejected the decree, as protesters gathered outside parliament in the country’s biggest political crisis in decades.
Protesters gathered outside the National Assembly building in Seoul after the martial law declaration.Credit: AP
Yoon’s surprise declaration, which he cast as aimed at his political foes, was unanimously voted down by 190 MPs. Under South Korean law, the president must immediately lift martial law if parliament demands it by a majority vote. His own party urged him to lift the decree.
Photo The Sydney Morning Herald
The crisis in a country that has been a democracy since the 1980s, and is a US ally and major Asian economy, caused international alarm.
Reuters, AP
6.49am
Why South Korea mattersBy Chris Zappone
South Korea has hosted US troops since the cessation of fighting at the end of the Korean War in 1953. The conflict, which saw North Korea fight for control of the peninsula with South Korea, was a central event of the Cold War (the geopolitical situation which lasted from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.)
South Korea has transitioned from that time from an authoritarian nation to a liberal democracy with a rising standard of living. Its economy transformed from agriculture to high technology and exports, although like other nations, standards of living have struggled in recent years.
The ceasefire in the Korean War, which has held since 1953, sees North Korea and South Korea in a state of continual tension – with Pyongyang frequently testing the resolve of Seoul with rocket launches and threats.
South Korea hosts approximately 28,000 US troops.
North Korea, led by Kim Jong-un, is a Stalinist authoritarian regime. In recent years, it has grown closer to Russia with which it shares a border.
South Korea along with Japan are key allies in the US-led security alliance in Asia, a grouping which has been pressured by the rise of China. For this reason, any sudden political shocks within South Korea are watched carefully.
6.34am
President Yoon hints at North Korean roleBy Chris Zappone
In South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s speech declaring martial law, he accused the opposition of trying to paralyse the administration and then invoked the threat from North Korea.
“I am declaring a state of emergency martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threats of the North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the shameless pro-North anti-state forces that plunder the freedom and happiness of our people and to safeguard the free constitutional order.
Photo The Sydney Morning Herald
“Through this state of emergency martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the abyss of national ruin.
“To this end, I will definitely eradicate the root causes of national ruin and the anti-state forces that have persistently engaged in malicious conduct.”
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night.Credit: AP
6.33am
US says it is watching events in South Korea with grave concern
US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the United States was watching events in US ally South Korea with “grave concern” and had every hope and expectation that any political disputes would be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.
Campbell spoke at an event at the US State Department after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in a surprise late-night TV address earlier on Tuesday, creating the most serious challenge to South Korea’s democracy since the 1980s.
“We are watching the recent developments in ROK with grave concern,” Campbell said, using the acronym for Republic of Korea. “We’re seeking to engage our (South Korean) counterparts at every level, both here and in Seoul.”
Campbell said President Joe Biden, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were being kept appraised of the situation as it developed. He stressed that the US alliance with South Korea was “ironclad” and added: “We stand by Korea in their time of uncertainty. I also want to just underscore that we have every hope and expectation that any political disputes will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.”
Reuters
6.32am
Martial law declared in South Korea, sparking chaosBy Riley Walter
On Tuesday night, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, sending the capital, Seoul, into chaos. Here’s what you need to know:
Yoon made the declaration, vowing to eradicate “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces” and said he had no choice but to take the measure to safeguard constitutional order.The country’s National Assembly passed a motion to have the martial law declaration lifted, but it will remain in place until Yoon complies with the vote.Just before 5am local time (7am AEDT), Yoon announced that he would move to lift the martial law declaration at a cabinet meeting “as soon as members arrive”.Tuesday’s move was the first time since 1980 that martial law has been declared in South Korea.Under martial law, South Korea’s military has the authority to suspend parliament and political activities and arrest those protesting the declaration.Shortly after Yoon’s announcement, made on live television, troops enforcing martial law swarmed the National Assembly building in Seoul as protesters gathered outside calling for the declaration to be lifted and for the president to be arrested.The United States is closely monitoring the situation and in contact with the South Korean government, a White House spokesperson said.
