South Korean lawmakers have voted to revise the rules around martial law, now barring any attempt to obstruct lawmakers from entering the National Assembly. This comes after former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law order last December, which plunged the country into a political crisis. As military forces gathered in front of the the National Assembly that night, lawmakers had to scale the walls to vote down Yoon's order. The amendment on Thursday also bans the military and police from entering the National Assembly without the approval of its speaker. Yoon declared martial law on 3 December 2024 as his political troubles grew, from parliamentary deadlock to corruption scandals. He claimed that the shock move would protect the country from "anti-state" forces that sympathised with North Korea, but provided little evidence to support that. The crisis shook South Korea, which had endured decades of military rule before holding democratic elections again in the late 1980s. Senior officials in Yoon's administration have been ousted and detained for their role in the December decision. Yoon himself was impeached and removed from office, and is now on trial for insurrection. The months of political uncertainty left Yoon's ruling People Power Party in disarray. A snap election in June saw the opposition's Lee Jae Myung win the presidency. At a press conference in Seoul on Thursday marking 30 days in office, Lee told reporters that his administration would seek better ties with North Korea - a departure from his predecessor, who maintained a tough stance on the Communist regime. South Korean politics remains bitterly divided. When the parliament approved Lee's pick for prime minister on Thursday, the vote was boycotted by Yoon's party, which is now the main opposition.
South Korea revises martial law rules after political crisis
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"South Korea's National Assembly Amends Martial Law Rules Following Political Turmoil"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
In a significant political response, South Korean lawmakers have voted to amend the rules governing martial law, effectively prohibiting any interference with lawmakers entering the National Assembly. This legislative action follows the tumultuous events of December 2024, when former President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a controversial martial law order amid escalating political strife, which included a parliamentary deadlock and corruption scandals. The order led to military forces assembling outside the National Assembly, forcing lawmakers to resort to climbing walls to ensure a vote was held against Yoon's directive. The newly revised rules not only block military and police presence in the National Assembly without the speaker's consent but also reflect a broader commitment to safeguarding democratic processes in South Korea, a country with a historical backdrop of military rule and subsequent democratic elections since the late 1980s. The fallout from Yoon's martial law declaration has been severe, resulting in the ousting and detention of senior officials within his administration, Yoon's impeachment, and ongoing legal proceedings against him for insurrection.
As South Korea navigates through this political upheaval, the ruling People Power Party has faced significant challenges, culminating in a major defeat during the June snap elections where opposition leader Lee Jae Myung emerged victorious. In a recent press conference, Lee outlined his administration's intention to foster improved relations with North Korea, positioning himself in stark contrast to Yoon's previous hardline approach towards the North. This shift in foreign policy aims to ease the longstanding tensions that have characterized inter-Korean relations. However, the political landscape remains deeply polarized, as evidenced by the boycott of the vote for Lee's prime ministerial nominee by Yoon's party, which has transitioned into the primary opposition force. The ongoing divisions within South Korean politics highlight the complexities of governance and the challenges faced by the new administration as it seeks to stabilize the nation and address the issues stemming from the previous administration's controversial actions.
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