South Korea Faces Political Crisis After President Yoon's Martial Law Declaration

President Yoon Suk Yeol rescinds martial law hours after its announcement, as lawmakers move toward impeachment and public protests grow.

President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday, citing domestic political opposition as a threat, but reversed the decision within hours after a unanimous parliamentary vote against it.
The declaration, which briefly deployed military forces around the National Assembly, drew widespread condemnation for evoking South Korea's authoritarian past and was labeled unconstitutional by critics.
Opposition lawmakers have filed a motion to impeach Yoon, requiring a two-thirds parliamentary majority and Constitutional Court approval to remove him from office.
The crisis has intensified calls for Yoon's resignation, with protests erupting nationwide and fractures appearing within his own ruling party.
International reactions have been cautious, with countries like the U.S., U.K., and Japan expressing concern over the political unrest and its implications for South Korea's democracy.