Martial Law

Ex-South Korean defence minister attempts suicide amid martial law scandal

Kim Yong-Hyun, the former defence minister of South Korea, accused of advising President Yoon to impose martial law, attempted suicide before his arrest. He now faces rebellion charges

South Korea's top 2 police chiefs detained over enforcement of martial law

South Korea's two highest police officers have been detained to be investigated for their roles in enforcing President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law decree last week, police said Wednesday. The development comes hours before the main liberal opposition Democratic Party submits a new motion to impeach Yoon as the country's main law enforcement institutions expand their investigation into whether the president's declaration amounted to rebellion. The first impeachment attempt failed last Saturday when the ruling party boycotted the vote. The Democratic Party said it aims to put the new motion to a vote on Saturday. Yoon's ill-conceived power grab has paralyzed South Korean politics, frozen its foreign policy, and rattled financial markets, greatly reducing his chances of completing his five-year term and casting a turbulent shadow over one of Asia's most robust democracies. After last week's impeachment motion fell through, the leader of Yoon's conservative party pledged to

Yoon still controls military, says South Korea as leadership crisis deepens

While Yoon survived an impeachment vote in parliament on Saturday, his party's decision to delegate presidential authority to the prime minister has plunged the nation into a constitutional crisis

South Korean President Yoon banned from foreign travel amid martial law row

On 5 December, President Yoon had dismissed Defence Minister Hyun and replaced him with Choi Byung Hyuk. The decision came after the main opposition party moved to impeach both

More turmoil in South Korea as prosecutor set to probe Prez Yoon: Report

"The president will not be involved in any state affairs including diplomacy before his exit," Han Dong-hoon

South Korean prosecutors detain ex-defence chief over imposing martial law

South Korean prosecutors on Sunday detained a former defence minister who allegedly recommended last week's brief but stunning martial law imposition to President Yoon Suk Yeol, making him the first figure detained over the case, news reports said. The reported development came a day after Yoon avoided an opposition-led bid to impeach him in parliament, with most ruling party lawmakers boycotting a floor vote to prevent the two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The main liberal opposition Democratic Party said it will prepare a new impeachment motion against Yoon. On Sunday, ex-Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun voluntarily appeared at a Seoul prosecutors' office, where he had his mobile phone confiscated and was detained, Yonhap news agency reported. Other South Korean media carried similar reports, saying Kim was moved to a Seoul detention centre. The reports said police were searching Kim's former office and residence on Sunday. Repeated calls to the Seoul

South Korean Prez Yoon's impeachment fails as ruling party boycotts vote

A South Korean legislative push to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law fell through on Saturday after most lawmakers from his conservative governing party boycotted the vote. The defeat of the motion is expected to intensify public protests calling for Yoon's ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president's impeachment. Yoon's martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative party, but it is also determined to oppose Yoon's impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals. Impeaching Yoon required support from two-thirds of the National Assembly, or 200 of its 300 members. The opposition parties who brought the impeachment motion had 192 seats, but only three lawmakers from PPP participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn't reach 200. National Assembly ..

S Korean lawmakers to decide whether to impeach Prez over martial law bid

South Korean lawmakers on Saturday began meeting to vote on whether to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law, as protests grew nationwide calling for his removal. They gathered in the National Assembly hours after Yoon issued a public apology over the move, saying he won't shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose martial law. In a brief televised address, Yoon said he would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country's political turmoil, including matters related to my term in office." The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot, Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon, a conservative, has struggled to push his agenda through an ...

South Korea's Prez apologises, vows accountability for martial law attempt

South Korea's president apologised on Saturday for public anxiety caused by his short-lived attempt to impose martial law earlier this week, and said he would leave it to his conservative political party to chart a course through the turmoil left in its aftermath including matters related to my term in office", hours ahead of a parliamentary vote on impeaching him. Yoon said in a brief televised address on Saturday morning he won't shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promised not to make another attempt to impose it, adding that he's truly sorry for causing public anxiety and inconvenience with his declaration of martial law earlier this week. South Korean lawmakers are set to vote later Saturday on impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law, as protests grew nationwide calling for his removal. It wasn't immediately clear whether the motion submitted by opposition lawmakers would get the two-thirds majority ...

All you need to know about martial law, effort to impeach S Korea's prez

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing possible impeachment for sending heavily armed soldiers into Seoul's streets with a baffling declaration of martial law that reminded many of the country's past military-backed dictatorships. Lawmakers began impeachment proceedings against Yoon just hours after parliament unanimously voted to cancel martial law, forcing the president to lift his order about six hours after it began. Opposition parties are pushing for a vote on Saturday on the impeachment motion, which needs support from two-thirds of the National Assembly to advance to the Constitutional Court, which would decide whether to remove Yoon from office. In a surprising turnaround, the head of Yoon's governing party expressed support for suspending the president's powers, making Yoon's impeachment more likely. Here's what to know about the situation: Will Yoon be impeached? Opposition parties are pushing for a parliamentary vote on Yoon's impeachment on Saturday, calling hi

South Korea's Prez replaces defence chief as parliament set to impeach him

South Korea's president accepted the resignation of his defense minister Thursday as opposition parties moved to impeach both men over the stunning yet short-lived imposition of martial law that brought armed troops into Seoul streets. The main opposition Democratic Party and other small opposition parties submitted a joint motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday over his martial law declaration the previous night. Martial law lasted about six hours, as the National Assembly quickly voted to overrule the president, forcing his Cabinet to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. On Thursday, Yoon replaced Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun with Choi Byung Hyuk, a retired four-star general who is South Korea's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yoon's office said. It didn't provide any further comments by Yoon. He hasn't made any public appearances since he announced in a televised address that his government was lifting the martial law declaration. The opposition parties earlier ...

How South Korea's constitution empowered Parliament to overturn martial law

Article 77 of South Korea's Constitution grants the president the authority to impose martial law during severe national emergencies. But lawmakers can repeal it through a parliamentary vote

Explained: South Korea in turmoil as President Yoon faces backlash over martial law attempt

Martial law explained: Meaning, global cases, and the S Korean controversy

What is martial law and how has it been implemented across the globe during times of emergencies? Let's find out

South Korea faces global backlash after President Yoon's martial law decree

The martial law declaration cast doubts over a possible visit next week by the U.S. defense secretary. Japanese media reported he was due to meet South Korean and Japanese counterparts as part

South Korea's martial law saga: From Rhee to Yoon, a legacy of power crises

Declaring martial law during crises or to assert political control has a history in South Korea, used repeatedly by successive regimes over the years

South Korea's presidential history: Martial law, coups, and corruption

South Korea declares martial law: The troubled history of its presidents reveals a legacy of authoritarian regimes, political turmoil, and the transition to democracy

S Korea's Oppn urges Yoon to resign or face impeachment over martial law

President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration was a clear violation of the constitution

South Korea rushes to stabilise markets after Prez Yoon's martial law bid

The BOK said it will start special repo operations from Wednesday for local financial institutions to support smooth market functioning

South Korea's midnight martial law: A dramatic move reversed in hours

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced the first martial law in over 40 years, reversing it hours later following a Parliamentary vote