South Korean President Declares and Quickly Revokes Martial Law

President Yoon Suk Yeol's unprecedented martial law declaration faced swift backlash, with parliament unanimously voting to overturn it within hours.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night, citing alleged 'anti-state' activities by the opposition and North Korean sympathizers.
The declaration marked the first use of martial law in South Korea since 1980, banning political activity, censoring media, and deploying troops to enforce the order.
The opposition-led National Assembly unanimously rejected the decree, forcing Yoon to revoke martial law within hours as required by law.
The move provoked widespread protests, accusations of authoritarianism, and condemnation from both opposition leaders and members of Yoon's own conservative party.
Yoon's presidency has been marred by low approval ratings, political scandals, and mounting tensions with the opposition, which holds a parliamentary majority.