The president of South Korea has withdrawn his decision to impose martial law. Before this happened, however, special forces soldiers entered the parliament building. South Korean television JTBC recorded the moment.
On Tuesday afternoon, South Korean President Jun Suk Jeol unexpectedly announced martial law. He explained the decision with the desire to protect the country “against the threat posed by North Korean communist forces”, eliminating anti-state forces supporting “North Korea, which destroy the freedom and happiness of the nation”. The military issued a decree in which it banned political activity, the work of parliament and parties, and imposed control of the martial law management staff over the media.
READ MORE: What happened in South Korea
Shortly afterwards, protesters and members of the National Assembly gathered in front of the parliament. The police blocked the entrances to the parliament, and special forces soldiers entered its premises – they were, among others, in the main building of the chamber. The army set up barricades in front of the building.
Ultimately, deputies of the National Assembly managed to adopt a resolution calling on the president to lift martial law. The plenary session was held with 190 out of 300 deputies present. Everyone voted “for”. Among them were 18 representatives of the ruling People's Power Party, from which Jun comes, and 172 opposition MPs.
President Jun Suk Jeol then announced that he would formally lift martial law after a cabinet meeting. The president also confirmed that mobilized military units had been withdrawn.
Military personnel preparing to enter the parliament buildingYONHAP SOUTH/PAP/EPA
Under South Korea's constitution, the president can declare martial law in “times of war, war-like situations or other comparable states of national emergency” that require the use of military force to maintain peace and order.
Main photo source: YONHAP SOUTH/PAP/EPA