President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law before rescinding it hours later
Member of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party hold a rally at the National Assembly in Seoul calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol to resign. Photograph: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)The move late on Tuesday shocked South Koreans, with Yoon calling in the military which released a decree banning protests and activity by parliament and political parties, and placing media under government control.
The president's approval ratings have hovered near record lows amid a burgeoning influence peddling scandal and clashes with the opposition-controlled parliament over budgets and investigations.The military named Army Chief of Staff General Park An-su, a four-star general, to head a martial law command and released the decree effective at 11pm on Tuesday.
Some foreign embassies in Seoul warned their citizens to take caution. Officials in the United States, Britain, Germany, and elsewhere said they were concerned about the developments and said peaceful rule of law should prevail.The won tumbled to a two-year low before steadying as dealers reported suspected intervention by South Korean authorities, while stocks in Seoul fell about 2 per cent on Wednesday.
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