Martial Law Declared and Revoked in South Korea: A Nation Reacts

South Korea witnessed a political storm on Tuesday night as President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, accusing opposition parties of "anti-state activities." This unprecedented move was met with a wave of public and political backlash, dominating headlines and sparking an overnight surge in online searches. The Korean term for "martial law" became the most-searched phrase on Google in South Korea, with over two million queries in just 24 hours.

The declaration, however, was short-lived. Hours after its announcement, the National Assembly intervened, voting to terminate martial law. This swift reversal left the nation in shock and brought record-breaking traffic to South Korea’s largest internet portal, Naver. Despite the surge temporarily disrupting its services, the platform quickly restored functionality.

In response to the political upheaval, President Yoon held an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and key leaders of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). While they discussed the aftermath of the martial law declaration and opposition parties’ impeachment motion, reports confirmed that President Yoon’s potential resignation or departure from the party was not addressed.

The opposition, led by the Democratic Party, along with five smaller parties, submitted an impeachment motion against the president. The motion is set to be reported to a parliamentary session and could go to a vote by the end of the week.

This dramatic episode has left South Korea grappling with questions about governance and accountability. The fleeting declaration of martial law has drawn criticism for its potential to destabilize the nation and raised concerns about the use of such powers in democratic systems. As the political landscape evolves, the country watches closely to see how its leaders navigate this critical juncture.

Refrence From: www.ndtv.com