Emergency Decree Lifted Declared in Dawn Urgent Address
Cabinet Meeting Lacks Quorum, Will Lift as Soon as Possible
Both Opposition and Ruling Parties Demand Lift... Maintained for 6 Hours
In the early morning of the 4th, President Yoon Seok-yeol is seen on broadcast announcing the lifting of the emergency martial law at the Yongsan Presidential Office. Photo by Yonhap News.
President Yoon Suk-yeol declared the lifting of martial law in the early hours of the 4th.
It was about six hours after President Yoon had declared martial law the previous afternoon, and about three hours and 30 minutes after the National Assembly passed a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law.
At around 4:26 a.m. that day, President Yoon announced his intention to lift martial law through an emergency statement at the Yongsan Presidential Office.
President Yoon said, "Last night at 11 p.m., I declared martial law with a resolute will to save the nation against anti-state forces attempting to paralyze the essential functions of the state and collapse the free democratic constitutional order. However, just now, following the National Assembly's demand to lift martial law, I have withdrawn the military forces deployed for martial law duties."
He continued, "I will immediately convene a Cabinet meeting to accept the National Assembly's demand and lift martial law. However, although the Cabinet meeting was convened immediately, the quorum has not yet been met due to the early hour, so martial law will be lifted as soon as the quorum is fulfilled."
President Yoon added, "Nevertheless, I request the National Assembly to immediately stop the outrageous acts that paralyze the functions of the state through repeated impeachments, legislative obstruction, and budget obstruction."
Earlier, the National Assembly held a plenary session around 1 a.m. that day and passed a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law. The resolution was approved with 190 members present and 190 votes in favor. According to the Constitution and the Martial Law Act, if the resolution is passed, the president must accept it and lift martial law after Cabinet deliberation.
President Yoon remained silent even after the resolution passed the plenary session but announced the lifting of martial law through an emergency statement after 4 a.m.
It is analyzed that it was difficult to maintain martial law any longer since not only the opposition parties but also the ruling party demanded its lifting.
The ruling party, the People Power Party, held a party meeting at their Yeouido headquarters that day and requested President Yoon, saying, "Since the National Assembly has passed a resolution to lift martial law, please accept that opinion and promptly lift martial law."
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