Confusion, rumor and fear spread through South Korea in the early morning hours Wednesday after the sudden declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol
Troops surround South Korea’s parliament overnight after the president declares martial law. He accuses pro-North Korean forces of plotting to overthrow one of the world’s most vibrant democracies. Lawmakers voice outrage, and hastily vote to end the declaration in an early-morning session.
Confusion, rumor and fear were spreading through South Korea before dawn Wednesday after the sudden edict by President Yoon Suk Yeol, the first martial law since more than four decades ago when the country was controlled by a dictatorship.
The declaration and a rushed vote by lawmakers to overturn it were moments of high drama for an unpopular leader who has struggled with political deadlock in an opposition-dominated parliament and scandals involving him and his wife.
While there was no direct evidence presented, Yoon raised the specter of North Korea as a destabilizing force. Yoon has long maintained that a hard line against the North is the only way to stop Pyongyang from following through on its nuclear threats against Seoul.
Amid the surreal scenes of troops massing around parliament, here are some things to know as this story unfolds:
Immediately after Yoon’s declaration the military chief called in key commanders for talks. South Korean troops set up barricades and then made their way into parliament. The leader of the main opposition, which controls parliament, ordered lawmakers to return to the building, where they eventually voted to lift the declaration of martial law.
But there were far more questions than answers as the uncertainty stretched into the early morning hours.
Yoon’s declaration of an emergency martial law was accompanied by an accusation that the opposition was engaged in “anti-state activities plotting rebellion.
