South Korea's President has lifted today's controversial martial law declaration, appearing to bring an end to a night of chaos in the east Asian country.
In a shock late-night address to the nation on Tuesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared he had imposed emergency martial law, saying he had to do it to fend off opposition parties which had taken hold of the country's parliamentary process.
The entrance to the National Assembly, the seat of government in South Korea, was then blocked off - with lawmakers unable to enter.
Meanwhile, South Korea's military said activities by parliament and political parties would be banned, and that media and publishers would be under the control of Yoon's martial law.
But as clashes unfolded in Seoul, the country's parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, passed a motion in the early hours of Wednesday requiring the martial law to be lifted.
Then, later on Wednesday, Yoon was forced to back-track on his move - and now faces an uncertain future as calls rise for his resignation.
President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a news broadcast on a television at a train station in Seoul
GETTY
Dramatic images from Seoul show soldiers, police and crowds clashing
REUTERS
The White House said the US - which has 30,000 troops in the country - was "monitoring the situation closely" as images flooded in from capital city Seoul on Tuesday afternoon UK time showing clashes between police and large crowds by the South Korean parliament building.
Just days ago, South Korea's accused the president of preparing to declare martial law to avoid being impeached for alleged abuses of power.
Since his election in May 2022, Yoon Suk Yeol has frequently used his veto power to block parliamentary bills and investigations into scandals surrounding his wife, Kim Keon Hee.
But the president had a different take on events.
"To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea's communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements... I hereby declare emergency martial law," Yoon claimed in his address.
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PICTURED: Furious crowds storm the South Korean National Assembly
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PICTURED: Soldiers advance to the main building of the National Assembly as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law
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The president emphasised that the measure was necessary to protect the country's constitutional order. He stated his intention to "rebuild a free and democratic country" through the implementation of martial law.
Reacting to Tuesday and Wednesday's events, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society security think tank Alan Mendoza labelled Yoon's actions "disgraceful".
"It is pretty obvious that South Korea's martial law crisis will end with the resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol," Mendoza said.
"He has behaved disgracefully in claiming national security in defence of his crumbling political position, as the united legislative front against him shows.
"A mature democracy like South Korea will show short shrift to those who seek to undermine its processes and institutions."
Police closed off the gates to the National Assembly as furious crowds descended on the seat of government
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South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party Leader Lee Jae-myung leaves the court
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Yoon claimed he had no choice but to resort to such measures to safeguard what he called "the free Republic of Korea."
The specific measures to be implemented under the martial law were not immediately detailed in his address.
In his address, Yoon accused opposition parties of taking control of parliament and paralysing the government through anti-state activities. The president specifically targeted the Democratic Party, which holds a majority in parliament.
"Tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and soldiers with guns and knives will rule the country," Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, which has the majority in parliament, said in a livestream online.
"The economy of the Republic of Korea will collapse irretrievably. My fellow citizens, please come to the National Assembly."
Yoon cited a motion by the country's opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, this week to impeach some of the country's top prosecutors and its rejection of a government budget proposal.
