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By Jack Kim and Ju-min Park, Reuters South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he would lift a martial law declaration he had imposed just hours before, backing down in a standoff with parliament which rejected his attempt to ban political activity and censor the media. Yoon declared martial law on Tuesday night local time to thwart "anti-state forces" among his opponents. But outraged lawmakers rejected the decree, in South Korea's biggest political crisis in decades. Yonhap news agency said the cabinet had agreed early on Wednesday to scrap the martial law. Protesters outside parliament shouted and clapped. "We won!" they chanted. One demonstrator banged on a drum. South Korea's won currency recovered somewhat after Yoon backed down and was 0.8 percent lower at 1414.45 per US dollar. Ch...

South Koreans were shocked when President Yoon Suk Yeol said in an unannounced live TV broadcast that he was declaring martial law - then reversed course just hours later. After initial confusion over exactly what measures would be taken, the South Korean military released a decree banning protests and activity by parliament and political parties, and placing media under government control. Few of those steps appeared to have been implemented before 190 of the National Assembly's 300 members defied police and military cordons to vote against the declaration, which Yoon then promised to lift. Photo: YONHAP / AFP Here is what we know so far: Why did Yoon declare martial law? Yoon said opposition parties had taken the parliamentary process hostage. "I declare martial law to protect th...

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law during a late night televised address. Photo: ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial laws on Wednesday for the first time in the country since 1980. Below is a Reuters translation of the military decree: "In order to protect liberal democracy from the threat of overthrowing the regime of the Republic of Korea by anti-state forces active within the Republic of Korea and to protect the safety of the people, the following is hereby declared throughout the Republic of Korea as of 23:00 on December 3, 2024: 1. All political activities, including the activities of the National Assembly, local councils, and political parties, political associations, rallies and demonstrations, are prohibited. 2. All a...