SEOUL, South Korea — In a surprising late-night broadcast, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, prompting widespread protests across the nation. The shocking announcement was made during a televised address on Tuesday, where Yoon called for military troops to secure the National Assembly building amidst escalating political tensions.
Citizens gathered in the cold December air, demanding the repeal of martial law and Yoon’s resignation, as the situation unfolded. Tensions escalated over several hours, capturing moments of protest and defiance, ultimately leading to Yoon’s retreat from his initial stance. Here’s a timeline of the events as they unfolded:
At 10:29 p.m., President Yoon appeared before the nation, announcing the declaration of martial law, which granted his administration extensive powers to restrict anti-government protests, dissolve political parties, and regulate media coverage. Yoon justified the decision by claiming it was essential to “defend the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces.” He accused the opposition of being complicit with North Korea and stated that “anti-state forces” were responsible for the country’s decline, yet he failed to provide concrete evidence for his claims. “This measure is necessary to uphold our constitutional order of freedom,” Yoon asserted.
By 11 p.m., martial law was in effect, and demonstrators began to assemble outside the National Assembly. They encountered riot police who were deployed to maintain order. As the crowd grew, additional security reinforcements arrived, including police and military transport helicopters. In one incident, a small group of protesters surrounded an armored military vehicle, refusing to let it pass, while others chanted slogans such as “Martial law is invalid” and “Yoon Suk Yeol step down!” To police and military forces, they called out demands to “Withdraw! Withdraw!” One woman even remarked sarcastically, “Isn’t this a historical moment?” as helicopters flew overhead.
At approximately 11:15 p.m., lawmakers began to arrive at the National Assembly in an effort to secure a vote to end martial law. Recognizing that martial law could be revoked through a parliamentary vote, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the last presidential election, streamed his journey to the assembly live. In his broadcast, he urged the public to converge on the building to help establish a quorum: “The National Assembly must vote to lift martial law,” he declared, cautioning that military actions could be directed against parliament members.
After navigating around obstacles, Lee reached the assembly grounds and documented his entry with shaky footage. At 11:28 p.m., the South Korean military announced media controls and a suspension of political activities, although no immediate enforcement measures were taken.
By midnight, over 150 lawmakers had gathered, meeting the necessary quorum; however, many faced difficulties accessing the assembly’s main chamber due to the heavy presence of police and troops.
As early Wednesday approached, confrontations became heated at the entrance of the National Assembly as lawmakers forced their way in for a vote. A dramatic clash ensued when Democratic Party spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong engaged a soldier, pulling at his rifle while shouting “Let it go” and “Aren’t you ashamed?” This intense interaction showed the raw emotions of the moment, as the soldier stepped back, rifle aimed at her, and she continued to challenge him as he retreated.
At 12:35 a.m., parliamentary speaker Woo Won-shik managed to enter the assembly hall, where lawmakers introduced a motion to annul martial law. Shortly followed, at 1:02 a.m., a decisive vote saw 190 lawmakers supporting the motion to lift martial law.
By 4:20 a.m., President Yoon returned to the podium to inform the nation about the parliamentary decision and his subsequent order for troop withdrawal. However, he reiterated his accusations against the opposition, demanding an end to what he described as “reckless actions” harming the nation’s functionality, including repeated impeachment efforts and legislative manipulation. By approximately 4:30 a.m., martial law was officially rescinded after an emergency Cabinet meeting.
Overall, the unfolding of this event has left an indelible mark on South Korea’s political landscape, highlighting the struggle between governmental authority and public dissent.
