South Korea's parliament overrides martial law blockade
Special forces soldiers entered the South Korean parliament's headquarters, blocking access to the building. The opposition intended to hold a vote to annul President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law. Ultimately, they succeeded.
Dec 3, 2024 | updated: 12:29 PM EST, December 3, 2024
The Yonhap and BBC news agencies reported on Tuesday that three helicopters carrying armed special forces soldiers landed on the grounds of the Seoul parliament. The military set up barricades before the building, making access difficult for parliament members.
According to Representative Hong Ki Won, about 70 opposition members were inside the parliament, while the rest were outside. The Speaker of the House, Wu Won Shik, planned to call for a vote upon his arrival at the parliamentary headquarters.
Ultimately, South Korea's National Assembly voted on Wednesday night Eastern Time to demand President Yoon Suk Yeol lift the state of emergency. According to the constitution, martial law must be lifted when demanded by the parliamentary majority, as the Yonhap agency explains.
In the plenary session, the resolution calling for the lifting of martial law was adopted with 190 members present, and all voted "in favor." "After the adoption of this resolution, the decision to declare martial law is invalid," informed the office of the Speaker of the National Assembly.
