Yoon, 63, stunned the nation, lawmakers and investors earlier by declaring martial law in a high-stakes move he claimed would prevent the opposition from trying to paralyze his administration amid a political rift that’s now set to deepen markedly. The South Korean leader’s political future will be put to test after his daring move, which caught even his fellow party members and foreign allies like the US by surprise. South Korea’s opposition called for Yoon to step down.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he will lift his martial law decree, giving in to the parliament’s opposition just hours after his dramatic move imposing it that shook markets and surprised other world leaders.
Yoon said in a televised address early Wednesday that he will “accept the National Assembly’s demand and lift the martial law through a cabinet meeting,” which he said he had called but its members hadn’t yet arrived. He will immediately lift the martial law when they convene, he said.
