LAW'S FIASCO
South Korean President to LIFT martial law just hours after troops stormed the parliament and clashed with civilians
President Yoon claimed he was protecting the country from North Korean communist forces
SOUTH Korea's President has u-turned after bizarrely declaring martial law, leading to military forces storming the parliament building and clashing with protesters.
Yoon Suk Yeol had ordered troops to enter the National Assembly building in Seoul in an alleged bid to protect the country from Kim Jong-un.
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His shock televised address led to hours of chaos, including civilians forming a human shield against armed troops, before the leader finally backed down.
Desperate President Yoon said martial law would help to crack down on the threat posed by opposition MPs who support the North Korean despot and eliminate anti-state elements.
But he has now said in a second live speech - in what is the early hours of Wednesday morning in Korea - he is waiting to assemble the minimum amount of cabinet members to officially call off the emergency ruling.
A group of approximately 40 South Korean lawmakers are now planning to put forward a bill to impeach President Yoon, according to the Yonhap news agency.
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CHAOS AND CONFUSION
Chaos and confusion erupted as a helicopter was seen landing on the roof of the parliament building and tanks appeared on the streets outside.
Dramatic footage shows soldiers being sprayed with fire extinguishers by protesters who attempted to block them from entering.
Further video footage shows crowds attempting to force their way through a set of doors inside amid scuffles and chants of “No to martial law!”
Armed with assault rifles, army men were seen pointing their guns directly at civilians and MPs as they battled to get into the building.
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One clip showed South Korea's special forces climbing windows to break into the building.
Dozens of lawmakers remained sitting in the chamber, having voted against the President's move.
South Korea declares MARTIAL LAW in TV address over 'pro-North Korea threats'
MPs from both the ruling party and opposition vowed to block the move.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik submitted a resolution requesting the lifting of martial law around 4pm UK time (1am local).
The speaker later revealed he was forced to climb over a five-foot fence amid the chaos to reach the chamber to call the vote.
His resolution was passed with 190 of 300 members of the ruling and opposition parties in attendance, with all present in favour.
NATIONAL EMERGENCY
The President stunned the world, saying he had no choice but to resort to military rule to safeguard freedom and constitutional order.
Yoon said: "I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order."
Normal civil rights can be suspended under martial law in which the military maintains security during national emergencies.
South Korea's martial law commander said political activities were now "strictly prohibited" - but was openly defied by members of the national assembly last night amid spiralling tension.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung had said the parliament would try to nullify Yoon's martial law but the military may try to arrest members of parliament.
He urged the public to gather outside the National Assembly in protest.
Opposition MPs raced to the building to veto the decision and were seen setting a barricade to block the soldiers at the entrance.
What is martial law?
MARTIAL law is the temporary replacement of a civilian government with military rule - typically during war or major disasters.
Historically, it has been brought in after coups, during protests, to suppress political dissent or stabilise insurrections.
It involves the military taking control of the normal legal system and control of civilians.
Ordinary laws and civil liberties may be suspended under martial law.
It is a drastic measure with significant implications for individual freedoms and the rule of law.
While it's meant to be temporary, martial law can be indefinite.
Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agendas against an opposition-controlled parliament.
He has been a lame-duck president since the opposition won a landslide in parliament and was said to have “gone nuclear” by branding his enemies “anti-state”.
Yoon's conservative People Power Party had been in a deadlock with the opposition Democratic Party over next year's budget bill.
The president and his glamorous wife Kim Keon-hee have also been mired in corruption scandals in which she was accused of peddling her influence.
The UK government warned Brits in South Korea to avoid political protests in updated travel advice issued by the Foreign Office.
In a statement, the FCDO said: "We are closely monitoring the developing situation following the declaration of martial law in South Korea."
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ARCHENEMIES
South Korea and North Korea have been archenemies for decades.
In recent years, border tensions have soared between the two nations who are technically still at war as a peace treaty was never signed after the 1950-1953 Korean War.
Pyongyang has amended its constitution to declare South Korea a “hostile state”.
Dictator Kim Jong-un has pulled out of treaties, demolished unification monuments, and blown up road and railway links connecting the two nations, sparking military tensions.
A Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was created to separate the two countries.
It is one of the most heavily mined places on Earth - strewn with landmines to deter enemy troops.
In recent months, tensions have also grown over balloons of trash floated from North Korea, which Pyongyang says are a response to balloons carrying anti-regime leaflets sent by activists in the South.
Earlier this year, South Korea fired warning shots at North Korean soldiers twice in one week after troops crossed the border.
Meanwhile, deranged dictator Kim has been laying more landmines, reinforcing roads and adding what looks like anti-tank barriers on the South's doorstep.
Satellite images suggest the North is also building new defence lines right on the border - risking "escalation" and "bloodshed", experts have warned.
And Kim has been intensifying weapons tests as the US, South Korea and Japan host a flurry of war games in the region.
In a brazen intimidation move, North Korea sent a wave of 260 filthy faeces-filled balloons to South Korea.
Armed with an arsenal of nukes and chemical weapons, experts have warned a war with tyrant Kim Jong-un could be one of the bloodiest in history.
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