People hold a candlelight vigil march in Seoul condemning President Yoon Suk Yeol's surprise declaration of martial law in South Korea.
Credit: Reuters Photo
South Korea's opposition party urges President Yoon to resign or face impeachment over martial law decree
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faced demands to resign on Wednesday over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law that was voted down by lawmakers and brought thousands of protesters to the streets. (AFP)
South Korea ruling party chief calls for defence minister to be fired, entire cabinet to resign after martial law declaration
The leader of South Korea's ruling People Power Party Han Dong-hoon called on Wednesday for Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun to be fired and the entire cabinet to resign, after President Yoon Suk-Yeol declared martial law only to reverse the move hours later.
Han told reporters he also suggested Yoon be kicked out of the party, but ruling party lawmakers had various views. (Reuters)
South Korea opposition says to file insurrection charges against president over martial law
South Korea's main opposition party said Wednesday it would file insurrection charges against President Yoon Suk Yeol and other top security officials over his short-lived declaration of martial law. (AFP)
Seoul stocks sink amid South Korea drama
South Korean stocks sank more than two percent Wednesday while the won rebounded from earlier losses after President Yoon Suk Yeol dramatically declared martial law overnight before reversing the decision hours later. (AFP)
In Pics | Martial law -- a night of protests -- then a reversal
Protesters in South Korea after martial law was imposed
South Korean history is scarred by martial law
The most recent — and the most notorious example of martial law being imposed, perhaps — came after the 1979 assassination of President Park Chung-hee, a former general who had occasionally used martial law himself to crack down on political protests and opposition since seizing power in 1961.
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South Korea cabinet ministers offer to resign en masse: Reports
South Korea's cabinet ministers have expressed their intention to resign en masse to the prime minister, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported on Wednesday citing a source close to the ruling party.
The report comes after a martial law declaration by President Yoon Suk Yeol the previous night which he withdrew after parliament voted to reject it.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is scheduled to meet with the ruling People Power Party leadership and senior aides to Yoon at 2 p.m. (0500 GMT), Chosun Ilbo reported. (Reuters)
Martial law decree sparks international backlash
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who vowed to make his country a "global pivotal state", faced immediate international diplomatic fallout on Wednesday after his botched attempt to impose martial law.
Yoon declared martial law in a live TV address late on Tuesday night, only to reverse course six hours later after parliament defied police and special forces cordons to vote to block the move.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who was due to hold a summit with Yoon this week, will skip the scheduled visit, his spokesperson said on Wednesday.
"Given the recent developments, we have decided to postpone the visit," the spokesperson said in a statement.
The United States, South Korea's main ally, indefinitely postponed meetings of the Nuclear Consultative Group and related tabletop military exercises, a U. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The NCG is a signature Yoon effort aimed a having South Korea play a greater role in allied planning for potential nuclear war on the peninsula.
Around 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea and it was not immediately clear if other joint military exercises would be affected. A spokesperson for US Forces-Korea did not respond to a request for comment.
The US and South Korean militaries are "in contact", the Pentagon said on Tuesday, adding there was no request for assistance from Seoul amid the unfolding events.
Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder told a news briefing he also did not believe the martial law declaration had any significant impact so far on the US troops, some of whom work in combined commands with the South Korean military.
A White House spokesperson earlier said the US was not notified in advance of Yoon's announcement and added: "We are seriously concerned by the developments we are seeing on the ground."
The martial law declaration cast doubts over a possible visit next week by the US defense secretary. Japanese media reported he was due to meet South Korean and Japanese counterparts as part of trilateral efforts championed by Yoon.
Japan's lawmaker group on Korean affairs led by former PM Yoshihide Suga cancelled a Seoul visit slated for mid-December, multiple Japanese outlets reported.
"We are monitoring (the South Korea situation) with particular and grave interest," Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters.
Duyeon Kim of the Center for a New American Security said "Yoon’s international reputation as the beacon and symbol of democracy is now shot".
"The fate of Yoon’s foreign policies remains uncertain and even bleak," she added. (Reuters)
Nearly 300 troops stormed South Korean legislature: Official
The secretary-general of South Korea’s National Assembly, Kim Min-ki, condemned the military Wednesday morning for breaking into the legislature during President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law, saying that nearly 300 troops had stormed the compound. (NYT)
Martial law declaration was done within the law: President's office
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's office said on Wednesday a declaration of martial law by Yoon late on Tuesday was justified and within the bounds of the constitution, denying martial law forces had interfered with lawmakers' access to parliament. (Reuters)
Opposition parties submitted motion to impeach President over short-lived martial law
Associated Press reported the news of submission, even as Reuters quoted a member of the opposition party say that the vote would likely take place on Friday.
Chinese embassy in South Korea issues advisory to nationals, 'remain vigilant'
Chinese embasy in South Korea has urged its citizens to remain vigilant and stay informed.
“Chinese citizens living in South Korea can return to their daily lives, but are advised to stay vigilant, continue to monitor local developments and enhance personal safety measures,” the embassy said on social media platform WeChat.
(SCMP)
NATO'S Secretary General Rutte says, 'interested in how the situation may develop further'
"We are following events in South Korea, we are interested in how the situation may develop further," said NATO Secretary General Rutte.
Rutte said NATO's relationship with South Korea is key and 'ironclad.'
(Reuters)
Metal Workers' Union says will launch a full strike unless Yoon steps down
Metal Workers' Union said they will launch a full strike from December 11 unless President Yoon steps down.
(Reuters)
Hyundai Motor union plans strikes on Thursday and Friday
Hyundai Motor's labour union, who is a part of South Korea's Metal Workers' Union, plans to stage strikes for four hours each on Thursday and Friday, a union spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Russia watching situation in South Korea with concern, foreign ministry says
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia is following the events in South Korea with 'concern' but there there are no threats to Russian citizens there.
(Reuters)
Defence minister offers to resign over failed martial law, ministry says
Kim Yong-hyun, defence minister offered to resign on Wednesday over President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law, the defence ministry said.
(Reuters)
Oil edges high amid political turmoil
Meanwhile, oil prices firmed slightly, with traders expecting OPEC+ to announce an extension to supply cuts this week while heightened geopolitical tensions continue to dominate market sentiment. A shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, South Korea's curtailed declaration of martial law and a rebel offensive in Syria that threatens to draw in forces from several oil-producing countries all lent support to oil prices.
(Reuters)
Anti-president protest march begins in South Korea
Thousands of protesters marched through central Seoul Wednesday, chanting and waving placards demanding the president step down after briefly imposing martial law and plunging South Korea into political chaos.
(AFP)
Scholz calls martial law declaration 'worrying'
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the surprise martial law declaration in ally South Korea that was reversed only hours later was worrying. "It is very worrying that we are hearing that a country with which we are allies and friends, such as South Korea, has now declared martial law," he told parliament.
(Reuters)
South Korean President in trouble
Thousands of protesters marched on President Yoon Suk Yeol's office in the South Korean capital Wednesday evening, joining a push by the country's opposition to impeach the leader after his extraordinary but short-lived imposition of martial law.
(AFP)
US wasn't aware of martial law decision: Blinken
The United States was not aware that South Korea's president intended to declare martial law, US Secretary State Antony Blinken said. He added that he anticipated speaking to his South Korean counterpart in the coming days.
(Reuters)
Ruling party to oppose Yoon's impeachment
South Korea's ruling People Power Party decided to oppose moves to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his sudden decision, rescinded within hours, to declare martial law, the Yonhap news agency reported.
(Reuters)