South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol abandoned a short-lived attempt to impose martial law on Wednesday after lawmakers defied security forces to vote against his declaration and thousands of protesters took to the streets.
South Korean MPs unanimously voted against the imposition of martial law at a midnight session of the National Assembly to denounce the President's decision.
"We will accept the National Assembly's request and lift the martial law through the Cabinet meeting", Yoon said in a televised address.
Here are the live updates of the situation in South Korea:
South Korean opposition move to impeach president after martial law bid
South Korea's opposition moved to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday after his extraordinary but short-lived imposition of martial law that brought thousands of protesters to the streets.
South Korea's opposition parties -- whose lawmakers jumped fences and tussled with security forces to vote down the law -- on Wednesday filed a motion to impeach Yoon.
"We've submitted an impeachment motion prepared urgently," said Kim Yong-min from the opposition Democratic Party (DP).
They were yet to decide when to put it to a vote, but it could come as soon as Friday.
The opposition holds a large majority in the 300-member parliament and needs only a handful of defections from the president's party to secure the two-thirds majority needed to pass the motion.
Seoul stocks end 1.44% after martial law bid
The Seoul stock exchange closed down more than one percent Wednesday after South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly declared then lifted martial law overnight.
The Kospi composite index tumbled 1.44 percent, or 36.10 points, to 2,464 after initially falling 2.3 percent at the open, while shares in the country's biggest company Samsung Electronics finished down 0.93 percent, having initially dived more than three percent.
Explainer: How To Impeach A South Korean President
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing the threat of impeachment, with opposition lawmakers accusing him of violating his constitutional duty and committing a crime akin to treason when he declared martial law on Tuesday.
Yoon lifted the martial law declaration before dawn on Wednesday, just hours after opposition-controlled parliament rejected his attempt to ban political activity and censor the media.
South Korea opposition says will start impeachment proceedings unless president resigns
South Korea's main opposition party said Wednesday it would initiate impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol unless he immediately resigned, after his short-lived declaration of martial law overnight.
If Yoon "does not resign immediately, the Democratic Party will immediately initiate impeachment proceedings in line with the will of the people," it said in a statement.
South Korea Withdraws Martial Law. What Happens Next
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday said he would lift martial law just hours after he imposed it, in a brief and confusing episode in which he blasted the opposition as "anti-state forces" threatening the country's democracy.
What happened next?
Following the lawmakers' vote, Yoon backed down. His cabinet additionally approved the motion to lift the order, Yonhap news agency reported.
"Just a moment ago, there was a demand from the National Assembly to lift the state of emergency, and we have withdrawn the military that was deployed for martial law operations," Yoon said in a televised address around 4:30 am (1930 GMT Tuesday).
Under South Korea's constitution, the parliamentary vote to lift martial law has to be respected.
Japan monitoring South Korea situation with 'exceptional and serious concerns': PM Shigeru Ishiba
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday that Tokyo was monitoring the situation in South Korea with "exceptional and serious concerns" after the Asian neighbour's president declared then revoked martial law overnight.
Ishiba also said Tokyo was unaware of "any information suggesting that Japanese citizens (living in South Korea) were injured."
Seoul Stock Exchange Opens Down 2% After Martial Law Bid
The Seoul stock exchange fell 2% at the opening Wednesday before limiting its losses in early trading, after President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly declared then lifted martial law overnight.
The Kospi composite index tumbled to 2,450.76 points as trading opened while shares in the country's biggest company Samsung Electronics slid 3 percent before paring losses about half an hour later to 1.12 percent down.
The Korean won lost 2.5 percent against the greenback overnight to 1,444.09 against the dollar, its weakest level in two years.
"Relieved": US Reacts As South Korean President Lifts Martial Law
The White House on Tuesday said the United States was "relieved" that South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol had reversed course after imposing martial law.
"We are relieved President Yoon has reversed course on his concerning declaration of martial law and respected the ROK National Assembly's vote to end it," a National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement, using the acronym for South Korea's official name.
South Korean Ruling Party Leader Says Martial Law Attempt "Tragic"
The leader of South Korea's ruling party on Wednesday described President Yoon Suk Yeol's attempt to impose martial law as "tragic", calling for those involved to be held accountable.
"The president must directly and thoroughly explain this tragic situation," People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon told reporters in a televised broadcast, adding that "all those responsible must be held strictly accountable."
Opposition Demands South Korean President Step Down Over 'Insurrection'
South Korea's main opposition party on Wednesday demanded President Yoon Suk Yeol step down, accusing him of insurrection after he attempted to impose martial law.
South Korean Citizens Outside Parliament Celebrate As Bill Passes To Lift Martial Law
Citizens gathering outside the National Assembly erupted in applause and cheers on Wednesday as the South Korean Parliament voted to end martial law that President Yoon Suk Yeol declared in a surprise address just hours earlier.
After Parliament voted in favour of a motion demanding the lifting of martial law at around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, citizens that were confronting the military and the police at the main gate of the National Assembly burst into cheers and roared in celebration.
South Korean President Says He Will Lift Martial Law After Parliament Vote
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Wednesday he would move to lift a martial law declaration he had imposed just hours before, honoring a parliamentary vote against the measure.
US "Seriously Concerned" As South Korea Declares Martial Law
The United States said it was "seriously concerned" Wednesday after South Korea, one of Washington's closest allies, unexpectedly declared martial law, with President Joe Biden briefed on the situation during his visit to Angola.
The White House said it had not been notified in advance of the move made late Tuesday by President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea, adding that it was in contact with the government in Seoul and was monitoring the situation "closely."
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that “The secretary-general is currently on a plane back to New York, but obviously, we’re watching the situation very closely and with concern. But at this point, that’s all I have to say."
Yonhap, the South Korean news agency reported that Naver, an online portal is now operating normally after facing disruptions after the martial law declaration.
South Korean military says, will 'maintain martial law until lifted by president'.
The UK government has urged British people to avoid demonstrations in South Korea and has said it was following the situation closely. "We would advise all British nationals to monitor the UK's travel advice for updates and follow the advice of local authorities," Prime Minister Keir Starmer's deputy spokesperson told reporters.
South Korea's parliament with 190 of 300 members present passed a motion requiring the martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol to be lifted.
The United States is monitoring the situation closely and is in contact with the South Korean government, a White House spokesperson has said.
After Yoon's Emergency announcement, people started gathering outside the parliament building shouting, "Withdraw emergency martial law!"
Live footage showed troops tasked with martial law trying to enter the assembly building and parliamentary aides were seen pushing the soldiers back by spraying fire extinguishers.
The announcement was made shortly after 10:00pm local time. Declaring martial law starting 11pm local time.
