Protests erupt in South Korea as president declares martial law

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Protests erupt in South Korea as president declares martial law

South Korea's President has declared martial law in the country for the first time in more than 50 years, leading to large protests outside the parliament building in Seoul.

President Yoon Suk Yeol made the declaration on Tuesday accusing the country's opposition of controlling parliament, sympathising with North Korea and paralysing the government with anti-state activities.

Police and the military quickly created a barrier around the parliament building but a large protest soon emerged in the middle of the night.

Hundreds of protesters waving banners and calling for Yoon's impeachment gathered in central Seoul despite the military saying they should disperse.

Inside the building, 190 lawmakers of the 300-strong body managed to convene and in an emergency session they voted 190-0 to cancel the declaration less than three hours after it was announced.

Members of Yoon's People Power Party party joined with the opposition to vote down the measure.

Under South Korean law parliament has the power to cancel martial law but it is unclear if the military will follow parliament or the president's direction.

Following the president's announcement, the South Korean military announced strikes in the country should come to an end, and that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” would be suspended.

The military said anyone who violated the decree could be arrested without a warrant.

After the vote to overturn the declaration, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declared that lawmakers "will protect democracy with the people."

Woo called for police and military personnel to withdraw from the Assembly’s grounds.

Yoon's conservative government has been stuck in an impasse with the liberal opposition Democratic Party over next year's budget bill.

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, called Yoon’s announcement "illegal and unconstitutional."

The leader of Yoon's own People Power Party called the decision to impose martial law "wrong" and vowed to "stop it with the people."

Martial law effectively suspends the civilian government and puts the military in control of the country.

It takes a different form from country to country but it also usually comes with a suspension of civil rights, the imposition of curfews and strict punishment for anyone who breaks military decrees.

Yoon took office in 2022 but has seen his approval rating dip in recent months, as he's struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament.

He has also dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, which has drawn criticism from his political rivals.

Yoon’s move is the first declaration of martial law since South Korea became a democracy in 1987. The country’s last previous martial law was in October 1979.

[LadyTevar]

And just like that, it's over.

BBC News Live

If you're just joining us, there's a lot to catch up on for what has been a stunning night in South Korean politics. It's just ticked past 07.30 in Seoul, and we can expect a lot of political fallout to come in the hours ahead.

Let's take a look at where things stand:

In a late-night TV address, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in the democratic nation, arguing that the move was needed to protect the country from North Korean elements and "anti-state forces"
Less than two hours later, with 190 of its 300 members present, South Korea's parliament voted down the measure and ruled the martial law order invalid
Soon after, President Yoon reversed course and announced that he would lift martial law
Large demonstrations have taken place parliament, with many South Koreans expressing relief that the martial law announcement was taken back
The US, a key strategic and defence partner for South Korea, says it was caught completely unaware by Yoon's announcement

OH, and from everything we've seen, the Korean Military is sitting back and doing NOTHING to help either side.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

I have to say, when I saw this on the news I was all

[Raw Shark]

I lived in a South Korean neighborhood for three years. I like those guys. Played a lot of Starcraft back then. Only reason I moved is because my building exploded. That was the time I almost died running into a burning building to save my dog. Other than that, I liked that neighborhood. Good food, good bike trails.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

I lived in a South Korean neighborhood for three years. I like those guys. Played a lot of Starcraft back then. Only reason I moved is because my building exploded. That was the time I almost died running into a burning building to save my dog. Other than that, I liked that neighborhood. Good food, good bike trails.

Your building exploded?

[Batman]

Those things happen. Gas heating, somebody getting careless with fire or sparks, blam. Explosion.Doesn't even require somebody to do it on purpose.

[bilateralrope]

OH, and from everything we've seen, the Korean Military is sitting back and doing NOTHING to help either side.

Sitting back and letting civilian authorities handle it is exactly what I'd want the military to do if they oppose martial law.

[Raw Shark]

Your building exploded?

Not the whole thing at once, just Apartment 305. I lived in 505, two floors directly above it. Turns out the guy in 305 was cooking meth and he had a bit of an, "Oopsy-daisy," as the hardened criminals call it.

[Batman]

Or drug labs, that's another reason places explode.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Your building exploded?

Not the whole thing at once, just Apartment 305. I lived in 505, two floors directly above it. Turns out the guy in 305 was cooking meth and he had a bit of an, "Oopsy-daisy," as the hardened criminals call it.

All I can say is, I get why you'd risk your life for your dog- I'd have done the same thing for mine

[Raw Shark]

All I can say is, I get why you'd risk your life for your dog- I'd have done the same thing for mine

He'dve done the same thing for me.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

All I can say is, I get why you'd risk your life for your dog- I'd have done the same thing for mine

He'dve done the same thing for me.

I'd like to think mine would too, he's a very fast runner but weighing just thirty pounds he's not a large dog by any means

[Raw Shark]

Yeah, mine was about the same (fat little terrier), but hed've tried at least.

[Raw Shark]

I still have dreams about that incident. I collapse from the smoke. The Monkey is barking in my face. MATTY! WE'VE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE! He's trying to say. We both could've died there, but he never would've left me behind. I think that might've actually happened on the stairs. I don't remember it very clearly.

[LadyTevar]

Back to the OT:

SK President under pressure to resign

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing mounting pressure to resign over his failed attempt to impose martial law, as parliament moves closer to a vote on his impeachment.

The capital, Seoul, has seen a second day of street protests demanding Yoon's resignation, while police said he was being investigated for "insurrection".

The opposition is pushing for a vote on the motion to impeach Yoon on Saturday, even as the president's party has said it opposes the move.

It needs at least eight members of Yoon's party to vote for his impeachment for the motion to pass with a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament.

There's more to the article, but it's covering what we already know.