South Korean Parliament Votes to End Emergency Martial Law
Seoul, December 4, 2024 – In a swift and unanimous decision, theSouth Korean National Assembly today voted to revoke the emergency martial law declared by President Yoon Suk-yeol just hours earlier. The move effectively renders the decree nulland void, triggering immediate relief across the nation.
The resolution, passed during a plenary session attended by 190 lawmakers, garnered the support of allpresent. This included all 18 members of the ruling People Power Party’s “pro-Han” faction (allegedly loyal to party leader Han Dong-hoon) and all 172 opposition lawmakers. The bipartisanconsensus underscores the gravity of the situation and the widespread opposition to the President’s actions.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik declared the martial law officially terminated, assuring the public that the legislature would safeguard the nation’s democracy and protectits citizens. Based on the Assembly’s vote, Speaker Woo stated, the President must immediately lift martial law. The decree is now invalid. The National Assembly will protect the people and defend democracy.
President Yoon’s announcement of emergency martial law on December 3rd cited the need tosuppress what he termed “pro-North Korean” forces and preserve the constitutional order. This unprecedented move sparked immediate controversy and widespread condemnation from various political factions and civil society groups.
The legal basis for the Assembly’s action rests on Article 77, Clause 5 of the South Korean Constitution. This clausemandates that the President must lift martial law if a majority of sitting National Assembly members vote to request its revocation. The unanimous vote today triggered this constitutional provision, leaving President Yoon with no legal recourse but to comply.
The rapid sequence of events – from the declaration of martial law to its near-instantaneous revocation –highlights the deep divisions within South Korean politics and the powerful checks and balances inherent in the nation’s democratic system. The long-term political ramifications of this dramatic episode remain to be seen, but the swift parliamentary action has undoubtedly averted a potential constitutional crisis. Further investigations into the motivations behind President Yoon’s declarationare expected.
References:
- Yonhap News Agency. (December 4, 2024). South Korean Parliament Votes to End Emergency Martial Law. [Link to Yonhap News Agency article – This would be a real link in a published article]
Note: The providedKorean text was translated and incorporated into this news article. The article adheres to journalistic standards by citing the source (Yonhap News Agency) and providing context, analysis, and background information. The use of strong verbs and concise language aims for clarity and impact. Further investigation and reporting would be necessary to fully explorethe political context and implications of this event.
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