South Korean President Yoon says martial law will be lifted in Cabinet meeting today

He said in a follow-up public address that troops deployed to carry out the martial law decree have been withdrawn.

On Tuesday night, Yoon unexpectedly declared emergency martial law to eradicate “antistate forces.”

This marks the first time in 44 years that martial law has been declared in South Korea.

Less than three hours later, the National Assembly passed a resolution requesting the lifting of the emergency martial law.

The motion was passed early Wednesday with all 190 lawmakers present in favor. This included 18 conservative People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers in a 300-seat parliament controlled by the liberal Democratic Party (DP).

The vote came as police barred the parliament complex gates and military troops entered the building while hundreds of people gathered outside to protest the decree.

“I declare martial law to protect the Republic of Korea from the threats of North Korean communist forces, to immediately eradicate the unscrupulous pro-Pyongyang antistate forces that pillage the freedom and happiness of our people and to protect free constitutional order,” Yoon said in Tuesday’s emergency briefing at the presidential office.

In the televised address, Yoon vowed to “eradicate such antistate forces and the culprits of the country’s ruin, who have committed evil acts up until now.”

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]