Summary (updated)

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday to counter “anti-state” forces, accusing opposition lawmakers of pro-North Korean sympathies.

Parliament, controlled by the opposition, quickly voted to nullify the declaration, calling it unconstitutional.

Protesters and lawmakers denounced Yoon’s move as authoritarian, echoing South Korea’s pre-democracy era.

Military personnel withdrew following the vote, and Yoon promised to lift martial law after a Cabinet meeting.

Critics warned of democratic backsliding. This marks South Korea’s first martial law declaration since democratization in 1987.

    • bdonvr@thelemmy.club
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      1 day ago

      The BBC reports the military isn’t gonna listen to the vote

      It’s like 4am there though so might be quiet for a bit.

      General strike called for by one of the big unions too until Yoon resigns

      • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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        1 day ago

        Jesus Christ.

        Edit: Okay, he said he’s going to withdraw it, like he’s supposed to when the parliament votes for it, but this is such a whirlwind I have to expect the unexpected.

        • Jack@slrpnk.net
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          1 day ago

          It is a good practice to doubt the pinkie promises of wannabe dictators

          • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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            1 day ago

            Yes, it sure is. In geopolitics there’s no actual binding rules, just threats and relationships.

            BBC is now reporting that the cabinet has lifted the martial law, which I assume means the immediate threat is over, without knowing how South Korean constitutional procedures work. There’s still a damn lot of “pieces to pick up”, though.