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Normalcy returns to Seoul after the lifting of the state of emergency

2024-12-04 19:45:30, Kosova & Bota CNA

Six South Korean opposition parties submitted a motion to the National Assembly today calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, due to his decision yesterday to declare a state of emergency. Parliament rejected his decision by a unanimous vote, and six hours later, President Yoon was forced to lift the state of emergency. Although the country seems to have returned to normality today, the political future of the president and his associates is at stake.

The vote on the impeachment motion of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol by the Parliamentary Assembly can be held in two days.

South Korea's Defense Minister as well as President Yoon's top advisers resigned today in protest of his sudden decision yesterday on the state of emergency.

South Korea is trying to make sense of what happened for six hours on Tuesday evening.

Today, the capital of South Korea with nine million inhabitants started the day normally.

"This morning I found out that the state of emergency had been declared and I was really shocked. I was relieved to see that the decision was withdrawn in the morning, without serious problems. Now I'm really grateful to be able to enjoy afternoon coffee," says Kim Ha-Kyeong, a resident of Seoul.

President Yonn declared the state of emergency in anger at the opposition, vowing to eliminate "anti-state" forces as he faces problems with the opposition, which has a majority in parliament that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea.

The state of emergency meant the suspension of parliament, the ban on political activities and the censorship of the media. The army was sent to parliament to take it under control but failed.

Dozens of lawmakers, like the one seen in the video, managed to break through the cordon of the security forces at the outer gate.

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung broadcast live on social media his crossing of the fence to enter the National Assembly building.

"I and members of the opposition party will protect democracy, the future of this country, the security, life and property of the people," said opposition leader Lee Jae-myung.

Once inside, 190 lawmakers, including many lawmakers from President Yoon's party, voted to lift the state of emergency.

After six hours, President Yoon addressed the country again, this time announcing the lifting of the state of emergency.

"However, I urge the National Assembly to immediately stop the reckless activities of paralyzing the country through repeated attempts to file charges for my impeachment and manipulation of legislation and the budget," President Yeol said.

As South Korean troops withdrew, the country was left reeling.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking from Brussels, where he is taking part in the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, said that Washington welcomes the decision to lift the state of emergency.

“There was a unanimous vote in the National Assembly to reject the decision and the President accepted it. In our judgment, any political dispute should be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law," said Secretary Blinken.

Since 1948, when South Korea became a republic, a state of emergency has been declared more than ten times. The last time this happened was 40 years ago when General Chun Doo-hwan staged a coup and ruled from 1980 to 1988.

South Korean audiences may not be so reserved this time around. Several large activist groups say they plan to protest until President Yoon resigns./ VOA