South Korean Parliament Votes Against Emergency Martial Law Declared by President, Reports Say

The speaker of the South Korea's parliament, Woo Won-sik, has declared the martial law imposed by the country's president, Yun Seok-yeol, null and void as the National Assembly voted to lift the law, YTN television reported.

"Martial law is no longer in force. Citizens can be calm," the TV channel quoted Woo Won-sik as saying.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held an emergency meeting in his office overnight, after which he declared the threat of power paralysis due to attempts to impeach him and declared emergency martial law, the Yonhap agency reported earlier in the day.

Following the declaration of the emergency martial law, the country's Defense Ministry ordered key commanders to increase combat readiness, the agency also noted.

"The following provisions are imposed throughout the Republic of Korea as of 23.00 [14.00 GMT] on December 3, 2024 to protect liberal democracy from the threat of regime change in the Republic of Korea by anti-state forces conducting secret agitation inside the free Republic of Korea," Park An-su, appointed army commander, said in a decree, as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.

The South Korean Defense Ministry ordered the army to be ready to repel emergency situations and called soldiers to active duty, the report said.

Park An-su also announced the suspension of the work of the parliament and political parties.

"The activities of the National Assembly and local legislative assemblies, as well as political parties, political gatherings, rallies, demonstrations and other political activities are completely prohibited," the Decree No. 1 of the Martial Law Command, which was signed by General of the Army of the Republic of Korea Army An-su, read.

The commander of the martial law in South Korea also said that control over all media outlets is being introduced in the country.

The military broke into the parliament building, blocked after the law was declared, but later left it, the Yonhap news agency said.

Leader of the ruling People Power Party Han Dong-hoon condemned the imposition of martial law in the country, and the head of the opposition Toburo Democratic Party called the South Korean president's decision unconstitutional.