SEOUL and LONDON — Lawmakers and members of South Korea’s main opposition party gathered in Seoul on Wednesday to demand the resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol. a night of political chaos was sparked by the televised declaration of martial law.
“If President Yoon does not resign immediately, we will immediately begin the impeachment procedure, according to the will of the people,” the opposition Democratic Party said in a statement. “We will fight to the end together with all the people to protect the democracy and constitutional order of the Republic of Korea.”
South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party held a demonstration against the country’s president at the National Assembly on December 4, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea.
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The president said the measure would be necessary when he declared martial law because of the actions of the Democratic Party, a liberal coalition Yoon accused of controlling parliament, sympathizing with North Korea and stalling the government.
In this handout provided by the South Korean Presidential Office, South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol speaks during the declaration of emergency martial law at the Presidential Office on December 3, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea.
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The declaration includes a ban on political activities, including gatherings and protests. Yoon also called for an end to the “spreading of fake news” and the manipulation of public opinion. According to the statement, all the press would be controlled by the state.
The move sparked protests and, just hours after the declaration, the National Assembly voted early Wednesday to ask the president to lift the martial law order. According to South Korea’s constitution, a majority of the parliament voted to withdraw the decree that called for it to be suspended at the time.
Lawmakers and senior members of South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party chanted, “Yoon Suk Yeol should resign!” Yoon Suk Yeol during a rally against President Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul on December 4, 2024.
Jung Yeon Je/AFP via Getty Images
After the National Assembly’s vote, Yoon said he had withdrawn troops deployed to enforce martial law and “will lift martial law as soon as there is a quorum in the cabinet.”
The Council of State then met to vote to officially remove it.
Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok and nine other top presidential secretaries announced their resignations, South Korea’s presidential office told reporters Wednesday morning.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News’ Ellie Kaufman, Dave Brennan and Meredith Deliso contributed to this report.
