A planned visit to South Korea by Sweden’s prime minister and other ministers has been postponed following President Yoon’s declaration of martial law and its subsequent lifting.
During the visit, Ulf Kristersson was scheduled to hold talks with Yoon and meet with other key Seoul officials.
“With recent developments, we have concluded that it is better to travel to the Republic of Korea in the future,” the Swedish government said in a statement released through its embassy in Seoul, referring to South Korea by its official name.
“As in all democracies, political differences are best solved through democratic processes and in accordance with the rule of law. In that spirit, the decision to lift martial law is a welcome step,” it added.
US praises South Korea’s resilience
The United States is “encouraged by the resilience” South Korea has demonstrated through its democratic processes following the martial law declaration and its subsequent lifting, Washington’s ambassador to Seoul said today.
Philip Goldberg, the US ambassador to South Korea, said he was woken up after President Yoon made his unannounced declaration late on Tuesday night.
“It came as a surprise. I was awakened by the news shortly after the president’s announcement … we watched it like everyone else unfold,” Goldberg told the Yonhap News Agency.
Police clashed with protesters outside the National Assembly in Seoul
KIM SOO-HYEON/REUTERS
“We were concerned about the events of last night. At the same time, we’re encouraged by the resilience of Korean democracy. The United States supports that democracy and the people of Korea to resolve issues peacefully, democratically and constitutionally,” Goldberg said, reiterating that the US was relieved when the martial law was lifted.
The Seoul stock exchange closed down more than one per cent on Wednesday.
The Kospi composite index dropped 1.44 per cent, or 36.10 points, to 2,464.
The prices rallied slightly after initially falling 2.3 per cent at the open.
Shares in the country’s company, Samsung Electronics, finished down by 0.93 per cent after having initially dropped over 3 per cent.
Opposition seeks insurrection charges against Yoon
Opposition party members hold a rally in front of the National Assembly building in Seoul urging President Yoon to resign
GETTY IMAGES
South Korea’s main opposition party said it would push for insurrection charges against Yoon, his defence and interior ministers.
“We will file charges of insurrection,” the Democratic Party said in a statement.
The party — whose lawmakers jumped barricades and wrestled with security forces so they could vote to overturn the law — said it would also move to charge “key military and police figures involved, such as the martial law commander and the police chief”.
Nationwide protests erupt as unions urge Yoon to resign
Labour groups are set to hold protest rallies and candlelit sit-ins across the peninsula demanding President Yoon’s resignation.
A national strike was declared by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions which said it would stop working until Yoon resigns.
In the southwestern city of Gwangju, about 1,000 people are expected to attend an anti-Yoon candlelight rally set to begin at 7pm (11am UK time) its organisers told the Yonhap News Agency.
Demonstrators during a rally demanding President Yoon’s removal from power in Seoul
KIM SOO-HYEON/REUTERS
Similar gatherings will also be held in Suncheon, Yeosu and other South Jeolla province cities. In Busan, activists plan to hold a rally every day until early next week.
Activists in the southeastern cities of Daegu and Pohang held press conferences today where they denounced the president’s martial law declaration and detailed plans to hold rallies this afternoon.
Opposition MP calls martial law order very impulsive
Joon Hyung-kim, an opposition MP, told the BBC: “I think this is the end of his [President Yoon] presidency … the remaining [question] is how and when it will end.”
Yoon’s martial law order caught the country by “total surprise”, Joon added. “There was a rumour, but we never believed it — [I was] really shocked.”
Joon said he fought with police trying to get to the National Assembly building.
A door damaged by soldiers at the National Assembly in Seoul
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
“[The police] blocked me, I wrestled a lot … but finally I got through.”
Joon questioned whether Yoon was “in his right mind” when he made the order calling it “very impulsive”.
Vote on impeachment could come as soon as Friday
Protesters at a rally in Seoul demand that President Yoon step down
AHN YOUNG-JOON/AP
In the hours following Yoon’s short-lived attempt to impose martial law, opposition parties in South Korea have called for him to face impeachment or charges of treason.
“We’ve submitted an impeachment motion prepared urgently,” representatives for six opposition parties, including the main Democratic Party, said at a press conference on Wednesday.
They added they would discuss when to put it to a vote, but that it could come as soon as Friday.
Impeaching Yoon would require the support of two-thirds of parliament for the motion and then the backing of at least six Constitutional Court justices.