SEOUL, South Korea — In a night of extraordinary developments in Seoul, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in a surprise late-night address to the nation, citing threats from North Korea and from his political opponents at home, only to back down hours later after spontaneous street protests and a unanimous vote against the decree by furious South Korean lawmakers.
The head-spinning turn of events, which took the Biden administration and much of Mr. Yoon’s government by surprise, threatened to bring an unexpected round of political and security uncertainty to a key U.S. ally that had long been considered a model of stable, democratic government in East Asia.
Mr. Yoon, who sought to cement his power with the move, now faces questions over political survival after a humiliating public retreat. The opposition party demanded Wednesday that he resign now or be impeached.
As protesters gathered outside the parliamentary building, 190 National Assembly members convened a plenary session at about 1 a.m. Wednesday. All present, including representatives of Mr. Yoon’s conservative People Power Party, voted to lift the decree. Under South Korean law, a presidential martial law decree can be lifted with a majority vote from parliament.
Mr. Yoon announced shortly afterward that he was reversing his decree and would rescind his order after a Cabinet meeting. Despite dire provisions earlier declared by the newly formed Martial Law Command, there was no evidence of a severe crackdown in the capital as protesters took to the streets to oppose the president’s move.
“Last night, I declared emergency martial law with a resolute determination to save the nation in response to anti-state forces seeking to paralyze the essential functions of the state and undermine the constitutional order of liberal democracy,” Mr. Yoon said in a second televised address. “However, following the National Assembly’s demand for lifting martial law a short while ago, I have withdrawn military forces deployed for martial law operations,” Mr. Yoon said in the address.
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In a parting shot, the embattled president called on lawmakers “to immediately cease reckless acts such as repeated impeachments, legislative manipulations and budgetary disruptions that are paralyzing the functions of the state.”
That did not seem likely Wednesday.
Impeachment threat
In a statement, the opposition Democratic Party said Mr. Yoon must resign immediately or be impeached.
“President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration was a clear violation of the constitution. It didn’t abide by any requirements to declare it,” the party said. “His martial law declaration was originally invalid and a grave violation of the constitution. It was a grave act of rebellion and provides perfect grounds for his impeachment.”
The left-leaning party and its allies hold 192 seats in the 300-member parliament. Impeachment would require a two-thirds supermajority, or 200 members.
On Wednesday, the opposition parties issued a motion to impeach Mr. Yoon, which would require the support of two-thirds of parliament and at least six justices of the nine-member Constitutional Court, according to The Associated Press.
Mr. Yoon had made no immediate public response though there were reports of resignation offers from advisers. His Wednesday schedule also was put off.
Despite close U.S.-South Korean ties, the Biden administration was blindsided. During the events, President Biden was in the middle of a tour of Africa. The National Security Council issued a statement saying only that “the administration is in contact with the [South Korean] government and is monitoring the situation closely.” An official told reporters that the White House had been given no warning of Mr. Yoon’s plans.
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told reporters later Tuesday that Washington was watching the unfolding drama in Seoul “with grave concern.”
“We’re seeking to engage our [South Korean] counterparts at every level both here and in Seoul,” said Mr. Campbell, adding Mr. Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken had been briefed on the matter.
“I do want to underscore that our alliance with [South Korea] is ironclad, and we stand by Korea in their time of uncertainty,” he said. “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.”
Mr. Yoon’s reversal of the martial law decree assuaged the administration.
“We are relieved President Yoon has reversed course on his concerning declaration of martial law and respected the [South Korean] National Assembly’s vote to end it,” a U.S. National Security Council spokesperson told ABC News. “Democracy is at the foundation of the [U.S.-South Korean] alliance, and we will continue to monitor the situation.”
KCNA, North Korea’s official news agency, had carried no news reports or statements on the developments in Seoul after Mr. Yoon issued his declaration.
‘Den of criminals’
In his unscheduled late-night TV broadcast, Mr. Yoon, elected in 2022, slammed the opposition-controlled National Assembly as “a den of criminals” that was undermining the constitutional order and paralyzing the political, administrative and judicial systems.
The Ministry of National Defense said it had convened a meeting with key military commanders to bolster its emergency readiness and preparedness.
“The martial law is aimed at eradicating pro-North Korean forces and to protect the constitutional order of freedom,” Mr. Yoon told the nation. He promised to “crush the anti-state forces and normalize the country as soon as possible.”
“Dear citizens, I declare emergency martial law to defend the free Republic of Korea from the threats of North Korean communist forces and to eradicate the shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people and to protect the free constitutional order,” Mr. Yoon said.
A decree issued by a newly formed “Martial Law Command,” seen by The Washington Times, reads in part, “All political activities, including those of the National Assembly, local councils, political parties and any political associations, assemblies and demonstrations are prohibited.”
It said media and publications are subject to the Martial Law Command, and all strikes, work slowdowns and gatherings that incite social disorder will be prohibited. The decree warned that violators of the proclamation would be subject to arrest, detention and search and seizure without a warrant.
Images circulated online of armored vehicles patrolling downtown streets and clashes between protesters and police at the National Assembly. Early Wednesday, however, the streets of Seoul were quiet, with just a handful of taxis moving.
There were no roadblocks or signs of armored vehicles or helicopters that were reported earlier. Even the road past the Ministry of National Defense and Mr. Yoon’s presidential compound remained open to traffic. A moderate police presence, but no troops, had gathered outside the compound.
Only on the approach road to Yeouido, the island in Seoul’s Han River that is home to the National Assembly, gaggles of police motorcycles were heading onto the island for traffic control.
On the road adjacent to the parliament, police in dozens of buses maintained a low profile. Thousands of protesters crowded the street. Some were chanting slogans, conversing in groups and watching developing news on mobile phones.
“We came here to stop soldiers entering the National Assembly,” said Jeong Boon, a student with three friends in the crowd.
“I came here after I watched Dictator Yoon’s broadcast. My heart was bursting,” said Son Tae-il, 41, a trader who had rushed to the National Assembly despite his wife’s fears for his safety. “I had trusted my country had freedom and democracy. I never expected this to happen in my lifetime.”
Misjudgment
There was a growing conviction that Mr. Yoon had miscalculated badly in attempting to resolve the country’s political deadlock by reverting to martial law — a tactic of dictators in South Korea’s authoritarian past nearly half a century ago.
Former South Korean Foreign Minister Kyung-hwa Kang, now president of the Asia Society, said she was astonished to learn of Mr. Yoon’s declaration. She said it came “completely out of the blue.”
“Nothing in the circumstances of the country warranted this,” she said in an interview on CNN. “It was shocking, frankly.”
“We are so upset. We want him arrested,” said Jung Young-hye, who had gathered with friends to protest on the streets of Seoul. “He is insane.”
“The people will bring him down,” said Ms. Jeong. “If it is not the end of his presidency, it is the beginning of the end.”
Mr. Yoon, a former prosecutor, was a political newcomer when he won the 2022 election in a close contest. Operating without a parliamentary majority, he has faced policy frustrations and public ridicule for embarrassing episodes. He is under parliamentary pressure for his wife’s alleged corruption and for allegedly dubious political appointments.
The National Assembly has been the scene of a struggle between Mr. Yoon’s party and the powerful opposition over next year’s budget. The opposition has submitted impeachment motions against a state auditor and the chief prosecutor, which the president said contributed to undermining the government’s ability to function.
A failure to prepare
The marital law decision appeared to bolster Mr. Yoon’s enemies at home and mystify his supporters.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung called Mr. Yoon’s announcement “illegal and unconstitutional.”
“There is no reason to declare martial law. We cannot let the military rule this country,” Mr. Lee said in a video posted online. “President Yoon’s illegal declaration of emergency martial law is null and void. From this moment on, Mr. Yoon is no longer the president of South Korea.”
Even Mr. Yoon’s party spoke out against their leader.
According to the Yonhap News Agency, People Power Party head Han Dong-hoon said Mr. Yoon’s declaration was “wrong” and that he would “block it with the people.”
“As the ruling party, we feel deeply sorry to the public,” Mr. Han said in a press statement, suggesting those behind the original declaration may face pressure to step down.
“The president must directly and thoroughly explain this tragic situation,” Mr. Han said before Mr. Yoon backed down. Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, “who recommended this martial law, should be immediately dismissed, and all those responsible must be held strictly accountable.”
A person familiar with military affairs in South Korea said Mr. Yoon and his supporters had made minimal efforts to prepare the ground for the declaration or perhaps failed to appreciate the broad opposition it would generate.
“This is weird: If this is martial law, they should have checkpoints everywhere, and the internet should be down,” said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “They are not doing any of that.”
Asked about likely future developments, he said, “We are going to see: I don’t think it will last 24 hours.”
Questioned whether the brouhaha would spell the end of Mr. Yoon’s presidency, he said, “I think so.”
South Koreans retain clear memories of the military dictatorships from 1961 to 1987, the year the country achieved democratization after years of often bloody protests.
More recently, a former conservative president, Park Geun-hye, was impeached, forced out of office in 2017 and imprisoned. Months of massive demonstrations had been prompted by news that a corrupt friend, who held no official position, was influencing Ms. Park’s political decisions.
Ms. Park, despite her misfortunes, never declared martial law.
• Andrew Salmon can be reached at asalmon@washingtontimes.com.
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