Martial law lifted in South Korea hours after Parliament votes against it

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced early Wednesday to lift the martial law he had earlier imposed. The declaration, which saw military personnel surround parliament, was overturned hours later by lawmakers who voted to reject it.

Yoon said that troops deployed during the night had already been withdrawn and that he would formally lift martial law after a Cabinet meeting as soon as all members convene. Subsequently, the cabinet also cleared it.

The president's declaration of martial law late Tuesday was framed as a move to eradicate "anti-state" elements amid tensions with an opposition-controlled parliament. He accused the opposition of sympathising with North Korea. However, the National Assembly swiftly voted to nullify the martial law order, with Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring it "invalid" and pledging to defend democracy alongside the public.

Speaker Woo commended the military’s prompt retreat, saying that South Koreans likely witnessed the maturity of the armed forces despite the country’s fraught history with military coups. Meanwhile, Yoon reiterated his criticisms of parliament, accusing it of obstructing governance through impeachment attempts against key officials and "manipulative" legislative practices.

Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Seung-lae claimed security footage suggested that troops may have been targeting the arrests of key political figures, including Lee, Woo, and Han Dong-hoon, leader of Yoon’s party.

Protests erupted outside the National Assembly, with demonstrators calling for Yoon's impeachment. Minor scuffles occurred between protesters and troops before the parliamentary vote, but no serious injuries or significant damage were reported. Protesters were seen holding banners, and one woman attempted to wrest a rifle from a soldier, exclaiming, "Aren't you embarrassed?"

South Korea's constitution allows the president to declare martial law during times of war, armed conflict, or comparable emergencies necessitating military intervention to maintain order.