Martial law imposed and then reversed: Know all about the 6 hours of chaos in South Korea

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol agreed to end several unprecedented hours of martial law in the early hours of Wednesday morning after the opposition-controlled parliament voted unanimously against it in an emergency late-night sitting.

"Just a moment ago, there was a demand from the National Assembly to lift the state of emergency, and we have withdrawn the military that was deployed for martial law operations," President Yoon said in a televised address.

"We will accept the National Assembly's request and lift the martial law through the cabinet meeting."

Yoon had shocked the country just hours earlier by declaring martial law, accusing the opposition of paralyzing the government and sympathizing with North Korea. The move came into effect at 11 p.m. local time (1400 GMT/UTC) on Tuesday.

"To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea's communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements ... I hereby declare emergency martial law," Yoon had said.

Moments later, police were at the scene outside the National Assembly in Seoul, helicopters could be seen landing on the roof and special forces troops were reported to be inside the building.

Thousands of protesters also took to the streets calling for the President's arrest while lawmakers physically battled their way past police officers and soldiers to enter the National Assembly and take part in the vote against martial law.

Opposition votes to end martial law

Inside, parliamentary staff barricaded the chamber to prevent troops from hindering or stopping the motion, which was passed unanimously.

"Of the 190 present, 190 in favor, I declare that the resolution calling for the lifting of the emergency martial law has been passed," speaker Woo Won-shik said. 

South Korea's constitution states that martial law must be lifted when a majority in parliament demands it.

Protesters who clashed with police outside parliament overnight cheered at the announcement, chanting "We won!"

President Yoon then announced that he would comply with the demand and lift martial law as soon as he could convene his cabinet.

'Illegal and unconstitutional'

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, said the implementation of martial law was both "illegal and unconstitutional."

Han Dong-hoon, who serves in Yoon's administration, called the decision "wrong" and vowed to "stop it with the people."

In Washington, a White House spokesman said: "We are relieved President Yoon has reversed course on his concerning declaration of martial law. Democracy is at the foundation of the US-South Korea alliance and we will continue to monitor the situation."

The United States National Security Council earlier said that Washington had not been notified of the move to declare martial law, while US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell expressed "grave concern."

Around 30,000 US troops are stationed in South Korea to help guard against its northern neighbor.

What the martial law decree stated

The document declaring martial law said it was doing so "in order to protect liberal democracy" and to "protect the safety of the people."

It made six core points, and said violators of them were subject to search, arrest and detention without a warrant. 

All political activities, from parliament to local councils to public demonstrations, were prohibited. 

Any acts "that deny or attempt to overthrow the liberal democratic system are prohibited, and fake news, public opinion manipulation, and false propaganda are prohibited."

All media and publications were subject to control of martial law command. 

Strikes, work stoppages and "rallies that incite social chaos" were prohibited.

Any and all medical personnel on strike or who have left the medical field of duty should return to work.

Finally, the document stated that "innocent ordinary citizens, excluding anti-state forces and other subversive forces, will be subject to measures to minimize inconvenience in their daily lives."

South Korea's constitution states that the president can declare martial law during "wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states."

Budget stuck as opposition hold parliamentary majority

The opposition Democratic Party has a majority in parliament and is therefore able to thwart Yoon's plans for next year's budget in South Korea. 

Opposition lawmakers last week gave the go-ahead to a downsized budget plan through a parliamentary committee.

"Our National Assembly has become a haven for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship that seeks to paralyze the judicial and administrative systems and overturn our liberal democratic order," Yoon said.

The president accused opposition lawmakers of cutting "all key budgets essential to the nation's core functions, such as combating drug crimes and maintaining public security... turning the country into a drug haven and a state of public safety chaos."

Yoon: Opposition is 'anti-state' and wants to 'overthrow regime'

Yoon went on to label the opposition, which holds a parliamentary majority, as "anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime" and described his decision to impose martial law as "inevitable."

Meanwhile, the president has also been dismissing calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, attracting stinging rebukes from his political rivals.

Tuesday's decision from Yoon, who took office in 2022 but has seen his approval rating dip in recent months, has sent shockwaves through the country, which had a series of authoritarian leaders early in its history but has been considered democratic since the 1980s.

Natalia Slavney, a research analyst at the Stimson Center's 38 North website that focuses on Korean affairs, said Yoon's declaration of martial law was "a serious backslide of democracy in South Korea" that followed a "worrying trend of abuse" under his leadership.

South Korea "has a robust history of political pluralism and is no stranger to mass protests and swift impeachments," Slavney added.

The news saw the Korean won drop sharply against the US dollar.