South Korea’s National Assembly has voted to block President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of a state of emergency, as lawmakers and the head of state battle for control of the country.
In a televised address on Tuesday night, Yoon announced an “extraordinary” state of emergency and accused the leftist majority in parliament of plotting a rebellion and harboring North Korean sympathies.
State television showed live footage early Wednesday local time of soldiers trying to prevent a large crowd of people from entering the parliament building, even as lawmakers voted to block Yoon’s decree.
Under the country’s constitution, a parliamentary vote can overturn a declaration of emergency, but it was not immediately clear whether Yoon would accept that.
Han Dong-hoon, leader of Yoon’s People Power party, called on the military to step down after the vote.
“The external situation has lost its effect,” he announced on social networks. “Therefore, from this moment on, all state institutions that use physical force, including the ROK military and police, are required not to follow illegal or dishonest instructions.”
The office of the Speaker of the National Assembly announced later on Tuesday that the soldiers had withdrawn from the Assembly building.
The declaration of a state of emergency prohibited “all political activities, including those of the national assembly, local councils, political parties” and protests.
It added that “all media and publications will be subject to the control of the martial law command.”
Yoonthe hard-line former chief prosecutor, whose popularity has fallen to record lows in recent months, said he would “eliminate anti-state forces as soon as possible and normalize the country”.
His declaration of a state of emergency was the first since the introduction of democracy in 1987 South Korearuled by right-wing military governments after the end of the Korean War in the 1950s.
The president, who praised former military leaders for their economic achievements, was accused by opponents of reviving the country’s authoritarian tradition.
After winning the 2022 election by less than one percentage point, his poll numbers have fallen due to a slowing economy and political gridlock. His PPP was soundly defeated by the left in parliamentary elections in April, and one poll last week put his support at just 19 percent.
The clash between Yoon and his leftist rivals is the culmination of long-simmering tensions. Opposition leaders say they have been hounded by prosecutors linked to the president.
Yoon said Tuesday night that the opposition’s attempts to impeach senior officials in his administration had forced his hand by paralyzing the country.
He promised to “root out pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order,” but did not specify how martial law would be enforced.
He asked the South Korean people to trust him and tolerate “some inconvenience” while accusing the opposition of plotting a rebellion.
“President Yoon declared martial law for no reason,” Lee Jae-myung, head of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, said on Tuesday night. “Tanks, armored vehicles and soldiers with guns and swords will soon control the country.”
Kim Pil-sung, managing partner at Seoul-based Garosu Law, said that since the national assembly rejected Yoon’s declaration of martial law, “the key is the military’s next move.”
“If the military sides with Yoon, this could be a coup,” said Kim, who has advised opposition parties on political issues.
“However, that possibility does not appear to be high, as military generals have seen their predecessors in the past being punished for treason even after successful coups,” he added.
A former high-ranking South Korean military officer noted that hours after martial law officially took effect, phone, internet and mobile communications were still working, while the country’s state media continued to report fierce criticism of the move by opposition lawmakers.
“If they were really serious about enforcing the state of emergency, all communications would have been cut off, there would have been a media blackout, a curfew, and opposition members of the national assembly would probably have been arrested,” said the former officer.
“While we cannot rule out a worsening of the situation, this gives me the impression that this could just be a political gambit by the president to rally right-wing forces behind him,” they added. “But if it is, then it’s incredibly stupid.”
Yoon’s move could complicate relations with the US, South Korea’s most important ally.
US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said Washington was watching with “great concern” and was working with the South Korean government “at all levels”.
He added that President Joe Biden and his top officials were aware of the situation.
“I want to emphasize that our alliance with the Republic of Korea is strong and that we stand with Korea in their time of insecurity,” Campbell said.
“I also just want to emphasize that we hope and expect that any political disputes will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.”
Seoul is a key US ally. Biden hosted Yoon and his Japanese counterpart at Camp David last year in an effort to boost cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo to help counter China’s rise.
The South Korean currency fell nearly 3 percent to a two-year low, before recovering to trade up 1.3 percent at 1,422 to the U.S. dollar.
Shares in New York-listed South Korean companies fell at the open on Tuesday, with steelmaker Posco and retailer Coupang down more than 4 percent by early afternoon.
“It’s not a normal thing that happens in a developed economy,” said Lee Hardman, currency analyst at MUFG, adding that he expected the won to come under additional pressure.
Last week, the opposition majority in parliament voted to cut nearly $3 billion from Yoon’s proposed 2025 budget, a move seen as an attempt to rein in the presidency.
Accusing Yoon of authoritarian tendencies, the left focused its proposed cuts on the office of the president, state prosecutors and the police.
Additional report by Mari Novik
