STORY: Protestors and police faced off outside the South Korean parliament on Tuesday after the country’s president declared martial law in a surprise late-night address.
The move thrust Seoul into political crisis, with opposition lawmakers calling the declaration unconstitutional and protesters descending on the legislature.
Lawmakers rushed to the National Assembly, where the speaker of parliament declared the martial law announcement invalid.
Legislators early on Wednesday voted to reject it.
Images showed political aides barricading the doors inside the assembly, while footage showed soldiers in tactical gear mustering outside the building.
President Yoon Suk Yeol said martial law was necessary to eradicate what he called “pro-North Korean anti-state forces.”
But the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, called on his fellow citizens to reject the declaration.
In a livestream Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said “tanks, armored personnel carriers, and soldiers with guns and knives will rule the country.”
The military said activities by parliament and political parties would be banned, and that media and publishers would be under the control of the martial law command.
A White House spokesperson said the United States is in contact with the South Korean government and is monitoring the situation closely.
It is the first time since 1980 that martial law was declared in South Korea.
President Yoon cited a motion by the opposition Democratic Party this week to impeach some of the country’s top prosecutors and its rejection of a government budget proposal.
He said opposition parties had taken the parliamentary process hostage.
