(The Guardian) 12:30pm US Summary
Right now, it is 2.30am local time in South Korea, and about 190 of the country’s lawmakers in the National Assembly chamber have just recently voted unanimously to block the president’s declaration of martial law. Meanwhile, outside the building, thousands of people continue to protest against the president.
--This all began after South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol declared an “emergency martial law” on Tuesday during a televised briefing.
--Yoon accused the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathising with North Korea and paralysing the government with anti-state activities.
--South Korea’s main opposition, the Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, then called on all its lawmakers to meet and assemble at the national assembly.
--The country’s military announced a suspension of all parliamentary activity. Under martial law, political activities are banned, protests are prohibited and media is censored.
--Large crowds of protesters began gathering outside the general assembly building as police blocked the entrance.
--Lawmakers that had assembled then voted unanimously to lift the president’s martial law decree, with 190 of its 300 members present.
--The chair of the National Assembly then said that the emergency martial law declaration was now “invalid” following the vote by lawmakers for the decree to be lifted.
--Just after 2am local time, it was reported that some troops were beginning to withdraw from the main parliamentary building.
Right now, it is 2.30am local time in South Korea, and about 190 of the country’s lawmakers in the National Assembly chamber have just recently voted unanimously to block the president’s declaration of martial law. Meanwhile, outside the building, thousands of people continue to protest against the president.
--This all began after South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol declared an “emergency martial law” on Tuesday during a televised briefing.
--Yoon accused the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathising with North Korea and paralysing the government with anti-state activities.
--South Korea’s main opposition, the Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, then called on all its lawmakers to meet and assemble at the national assembly.
--The country’s military announced a suspension of all parliamentary activity. Under martial law, political activities are banned, protests are prohibited and media is censored.
--Large crowds of protesters began gathering outside the general assembly building as police blocked the entrance.
--Lawmakers that had assembled then voted unanimously to lift the president’s martial law decree, with 190 of its 300 members present.
--The chair of the National Assembly then said that the emergency martial law declaration was now “invalid” following the vote by lawmakers for the decree to be lifted.
--Just after 2am local time, it was reported that some troops were beginning to withdraw from the main parliamentary building.
