South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (People’s Party) declared martial law accusing the opposition party of engaging in “anti-state” activities in alignment with North Korea.
Hours later, the Democrat controlled parliament voted to lift the declaration, with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring that the martial law was “invalid” and that lawmakers “will protect democracy with the people.”
President Yoon, 63, has held South Korea’s top office since 2022, when he succeeded Moon Jae-in, from the left-wing Democratic Party. During President Trump’s first term, Moon Jae-in and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un formed a close political bond. Moon favors dialogue with North Korea, Yoon is a more hawkish outlook against the DPRK.
In a close election President Yoon won with the People’s Party after serving as prosecutor general of South Korea for two years before resigning amid disputes with the Moon Jae-in government.
Despite the South Korean parliament voting to invalidate the martial law declaration so far, the South Korean military appears to be supporting the position of the president.
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