South Korea president lifts martial law, senior aides offer to resign

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol lifted martial law early on Dec. 4, following the National Assembly's unanimous vote.

190 of 300 national assembly members were present, and all voted for the law to be lifted in the wee hours on Dec. 4.

According to BBC, Yoon said, "after the National Assembly's demand to lift martial law, martial law troops have been withdrawn."

He added:

"I will accept the National Assembly's demand and lift martial law through a cabinet meeting."

The South Korean military has disbanded the Martial Law Command following Yoon's announcement, BBC reported, citing Korean news outlet Yonhap News Agency (Yonhap).

How it unfolded

In an unannounced, late-night televised address, Yoon shocked the nation by declaring martial law.

It was the first time martial law had been declared since 1980.

Yoon had said that it was intended to protect the country from North Korean communist forces, and to eliminate anti-state elements, reported the BBC.

The law was in effect for approximately six hours in total.

What happens now?

It is likely that there may soon be attempts to impeach Yoon, if he does not tender his own resignation.

According to Yonhap, a group of approximately 40 South Korean lawmakers could put forth a bill to impeach Yoon as soon as Wednesday (Dec. 4).

Many of Yoon's senior staff and secretaries from the People Power Party have since voluntarily offered to resign en masse, following the decision, Yonhap also reported.

An emergency meeting within Yoon's party has also been called this morning, and discussions on his expulsion are ongoing.

"As the ruling party, we feel deeply apologetic to the public for today's disastrous situation," said the leader of the ruling party Han Dong Hoon, reported Yonhap. 

"Yoon should directly explain the disastrous situation and hold those responsible strictly accountable," added Han. 

Citing Korean news broadcaster MBC, BBC reported that a large majority of the party's supreme council members have agreed that Yoon should leave the party in order to "protect the spirit of the Constitution".

It is also now surfacing that Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun was reportedly the one who had proposed the idea.

Yoon himself has not made a public appearance since the law was lifted.

Sent shockwaves both nationwide and globally

Even as the law has lifted, protests continued on into the morning despite sub-zero temperatures.

Citizens, some of whom are just waking up to the news, are now left confused and waiting to see what will happen next, reported BBC.

By and large though, life is expected to continue as per usual, with schools, government services and banks operating business-as-usual.

A U.S. National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson shared that the US was not alerted about the announcement, and its administration "is in contact" with the ROK government, reported Yonhap.

However, the White House is "relieved" to know of the law's reversal.

Foreign embassies situated in Korea also scrambled to initiate contact with their citizens in Korea.

In a Facebook post on Dec. 3, the Singapore Embassy in Seoul had issued an alert asking Singaporeans to "stay calm and monitor the news".

Singaporeans in Korea were also recommended to register online with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

More stories on South Korea

Top image from @JoshEakle/X and Yonhap