South Korean opposition party calls on President Yoon Suk Yeol to resign

On December 4, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) in South Korea called on President Yoon Suk Yeol to resign, and vowed to pursue impeachment if the leader refused.

In the resolution passed at the emergency session of the National Assembly that morning, the DP stated: "President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law violates the Constitution" and "all the requirements necessary for declaring martial law were not followed."

According to the latest announcement of the South Korean Presidential Office on December 4, a series of senior officials, including Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk, National Security Advisor Shin Won-sik, Chief of Staff for Policy Sung Tae-yoon and 7 other senior aides to President Yoon Suk Yeol, have resigned.

On the night of December 3, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol unexpectedly declared martial law, accusing the opposition of paralyzing state activities. The South Korean National Assembly then voted and passed a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law.

Early morning on December 4, after the Government approved, President Yoon Suk Yeol announced the lifting of this order.

In a related development on December 4, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the decision of the South Korean President to lift martial law, while emphasizing that Washington continues to hope that political disagreements will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Seoul advised US citizens in South Korea to stay away from areas where protests are taking place.