Hundreds of people gathered outside the National Assembly building in Seoul, South Korea’s capital, on Tuesday night chanting “Abolish martial law” and “Oppose martial law”. The entrance to the legislature’s building was blocked.
A White House spokesperson said the US was monitoring the situation closely. Some 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea to guard against the North. A spokesman for the US military command did not answer repeated phone calls.
Sources in the South Korean and US government said they were completely shocked by the development.
The move drew immediate opposition from politicians, including the leader of his Yoon’s own conservative party, Han Dong-hoon, who called the decision “wrong” and vowed to “stop it with the people”.