South Korea’s national assembly has voted to block president Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law, as lawmakers and the head of state wrestle for control of the country.
In a televised address on Tuesday night, Yoon, whose popularity has sunk to record lows in recent months, announced “emergency” martial law, accusing the left-wing majority in parliament of plotting rebellion and harbouring North Korean sympathies.
State television showed live footage early on Wednesday local time of soldiers seeking to block large crowds from entering the parliament building even as 190 of the assembly’s 300 legislators gathered in the chamber.
Those present voted unanimously against martial law.
According to the country’s constitution, a parliamentary vote can reverse a declaration of martial law but it was not immediately clear whether Yoon and the military would comply.
The martial law declaration bans “all political activities, including those of the national assembly, local councils, political parties”, and demonstrations.
It adds that “all media and publications will be subject to the control of the martial law command”.
Yoon, a hardline former chief prosecutor, said he would “eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalise the country”.
His declaration of martial law was the first since the 1987 introduction of democracy in South Korea, which was ruled by right-wing military governments after the end of the Korean war in the 1950s.
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