President Yoon: "I will lift martial law... Martial law troops will withdraw"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering an urgent special address to the nation on the night of the 3rd at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

President Yoon Suk-yeol declared the lifting of martial law in the early hours of the 4th.

President Yoon announced this through an emergency statement at around 4:26 a.m. at the Yongsan Presidential Office.

President Yoon said, "Last night at 11 p.m., I declared martial law with a resolute patriotic will to counter anti-state forces attempting to paralyze the essential functions of the state and collapse the liberal democratic constitutional order," adding, "However, just now, following the National Assembly's request to lift martial law, I have withdrawn the military forces involved in martial law duties."

He continued, "I will lift martial law by accepting the National Assembly's request through a Cabinet meeting immediately," and added, "Although the Cabinet meeting was convened immediately, due to the early hour, the quorum for a resolution has not yet been met, so martial law will be lifted as soon as possible."

President Yoon also added, "However, I request the National Assembly to immediately cease the outrageous acts that paralyze the functions of the state through repeated impeachments, legislative obstruction, and budget obstruction."