South Korea’s parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, has passed a motion requiring the martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol to be lifted.
All 190 lawmakers present voted to lift the measure.
Following the vote, Woo Won-sik, the Chair of the National Assembly said that the emergency martial law declaration is “invalid.” “The President should immediately lift the emergency martial law following the voting by the National Assembly” Won-sik reportedly said. “
He added, “The people should … rest easy, the National Assembly will defend democracy with the people.”
South Korea’s constitution states the President has the authority to declare martial law when it is deemed necessary to cope with a military threat or to maintain public safety and order by mobilizing military forces.
The President’s martial law declaration must be reviewed by the cabinet, and once martial law is declared, the National Assembly must be notified of the decision.
If the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law by a majority vote of its members, the president must comply.
The martial law commander has authority over all administrative and judicial matters and is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Defence Minister among active-duty generals. The commander has the power to take actions related to arrests of persons, searches and seizures, speech and the press, and assembly.
Meanwhile, thousands of people gathered outside the parliament and police buses blocked the main entrance to the parliament compound.
Chants of “Lift martial law, protect democracy” could be heard. Some protestors also chanted “impeach President Yoon.”
Former President and Yoon predecessor, Moon Jae-in called on the country’s population and parliament to rally together to preserve democracy.
“Democracy in the Republic of Korea is in a critical state. I hope that the National Assembly will quickly step in and protect the democracy that is collapsing.
“I also ask the people to unite in protecting and reviving democracy and to give strength so that the National Assembly can function normally.”
Moon Jae-in
The U.S as well as UK and China reacted to President Yoon’s announcement, saying that they were monitoring the developments.
Yoon Compelled To Heed Parliamentary Vote
Se-Woong Koo, Managing Editor of Korea Expose, noted that President Yoon Suk-yeol is required by law to heed the parliamentary vote rejecting his martial law declaration. “This motion that has been passed by the National Assembly, it does not just call on him to rescind the martial law declaration. It compels him to,” he noted.
“It seems that the President is very much cornered and isolated, without allies.
“Will he continue to do something foolish on his own, or will he finally accept the reality and decide that he doesn’t have many options left?”
Se-Woong Koo
Additionally, Youngshik Bong, a Visiting Professor at Yonsei University and an Adviser for South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, asserted that the declarations of martial law under Article 77 of the constitution must be reserved for the most serious situations, such as actual war.
He said, “But we don’t have this situation. This is not a game the President can win.”
He opined that Yoon “may resist” the resolution passed by the South Korean parliament earlier, seeking to block the martial law declaration.
According to the Professor, the President was “seriously concerned, politically speaking” before he made his surprise martial law announcement. “But it’s going to backfire. His impeachment is really in the cards now,” he added.
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