Troops withdraw as National Assembly passes martial law repeal
Military troops withdraw from the National Assembly in the early hours of Wednesday after the National Assembly passed a resolution to repeal martial law. Yonhap
By KTimes
President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration wound down just two and a half hours after its announcement, following a resolution by the National Assembly early Wednesday. Troops stationed inside the Assembly compound withdrew as the situation de-escalated.
The parliament convened an emergency session at 12:48 a.m. and passed a resolution demanding the repeal of martial law by 1:00 a.m. All 190 lawmakers present, spanning both ruling and opposition parties, unanimously voted in favor.
Speaker Woo Won-shik said, "The Constitution mandates the president to report the declaration of martial law to the National Assembly without delay. This was not done, making the president accountable for this failure."
He said that the resolution process was conducted without procedural errors, following the Martial Law Act and parliamentary rules.
Woo further addressed the troops within the parliament grounds, declaring, "The martial law declaration is void. I urge all military and police personnel to immediately leave the Assembly premises and return to their positions."
Following President Yoon's late-night declaration, police blockaded the entrances to the Assembly, while troops attempted to enter the main chamber, even deploying from helicopters. Some troops broke windows to gain entry into the main building, intensifying the chaos.
After the Assembly’s repeal demand, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea reassured the public, saying, "With all 190 lawmakers voting in favor, martial law has been repealed. Citizens can rest assured. The Democratic Party will remain in the Assembly until the president formally announces the repeal and will protect the safety and lives of the people to the very end."
Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung, center, speaks after the National Assembly passed a resolution demanding the repeal of martial law at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, in the early hours of Wednesday. Yonhap
Ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon also declared martial law invalid, stating on Facebook, "The Assembly’s resolution effectively renders martial law void. From this moment on, any actions taken by state agencies, including the military and police, under the pretense of martial law, would be unlawful. I urge all forces to refrain from any reckless acts that infringe upon the people’s rights and freedoms."
Lawmakers from both parties continue to stay in the chamber, standing by to ensure full compliance with the repeal demand. The early morning events signal a critical turning point, as the Assembly asserts its constitutional authority to counteract the controversial martial law declaration.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.