The President of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, has rescinded the state of emergency that he declared the day before.
The decree, which was officially revoked at 4:30 AM local time, was in effect for about six hours.
"The parliament demanded the cancellation of the state of emergency, so I ordered the withdrawal of the military forces deployed for this purpose," Yoon stated in his address.
He also urged the parliament to "immediately cease reckless actions that paralyze the functions of the state, such as repeated impeachments, legislative manipulations, and budget manipulations."
The leading opposition party in South Korea, "To All," has called for President Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation, threatening him with impeachment proceedings and charges of treason.
What is a state of emergency and why was it declared?
A state of emergency is typically declared during wartime, insurrections, or natural disasters. When this law comes into effect, the military assumes control and has the authority to enact and enforce laws. The activities of political parties and the National Assembly are prohibited.
On Tuesday evening, Yoon announced the declaration of a state of emergency in a televised address, describing it as "an inevitable measure aimed at ensuring the safety of the people and protecting the country," while accusing the opposition of "anti-state actions," including sympathies towards North Korea.
The National Assembly, convened for an extraordinary plenary session, voted to revoke the regime. Subsequently, the cabinet approved the parliament's decision.
Just hours after his announcement, the opposition declared the decision "unconstitutional" and "invalid," with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik of the liberal Democratic Party stating that lawmakers would "defend democracy alongside the people."
The head of the ruling People Power Party, Han Dong-hoon, described the emergency declaration as "wrong," immediately promising to "block it." The leader of the opposition "To All," Lee Jae-myung, called the president's decision "anti-people and unconstitutional."
Yoon's decisions shocked the nation
According to South Korean law, a state of emergency can be revoked by a majority vote in parliament. 190 lawmakers in the opposition-dominated parliament voted for the repeal of the law.
Following the vote, police and military personnel quickly left the parliamentary grounds.
"Even considering the sad memories of military coups, our citizens undoubtedly witnessed today's events and saw the maturity of our military," Woo Won-sik said.
Earlier, the military had entered the parliament but was stopped by lawmakers who used fire extinguishers for this purpose.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the parliament building, calling for Yoon's impeachment. Others blocked military vehicles.
"It feels like we are returning to the era of dictatorship. I believe President Yoon has no right to act unilaterally," stated one of the participants in the protest.