Military forces reportedly withdraw from South Korea's National Assembly building after vote to end martial law

Military forces have left South Korea's National Assembly building early in the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, but parliamentarians have decided to remain within after a vote lifting martial law.

Remain in place

The BBC reports that military personnel that had earlier entered the building, whose complex had been surrounded and its gates blocked by police.

This was after South Korea's president Yoon Suk Yeol had declared martial law, claiming that the legislative body were "criminals" and "anti-state forces" and North Korean sympathisers.

Military and police forces were deployed to the National Assembly building, but 190 legislators were able to enter despite some confrontations.

이 여성분 엄청 용감하심 군인한테서 총 빼앗으려고 하시다가 총 겨눠지기까지 하는데 절대로 굴하지 않아 pic.twitter.com/tk0nG1MO2L

— 蕉文 (@youlu_v0v) December 3, 2024

Those 190 legislators, out of a total of 300, unanimously voted to lift martial law, with the Guardian quoting National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring martial law invalid.

The BBC reported that the legislators are remaining in the building, in case there are further attempts to "disband the parliament", and that some forces remain in the complex, although outside of the National Assembly building itself.

The BBC also reports that South Korea's military has issued a statement saying that martial law will be maintained until it is lifted by the president.

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Top image via YTN/YouTube & @youlu_v0v/X