South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol declared emergency martial law in the country for the first time in 44 years on the evening of December 3.  

Yoon said that opposition parties were plotting to overthrow his government, citing the opposition’s pursuing impeachment charges against government officials.   

Nishiyama So, NNN Seoul Correspondent:

In front of the National Assembly, calls are being made for citizens to gather in protest.  

Protestors: 

Remove martial law!  

Military units stormed the National Assembly, where a large crowd had gathered in protest.  

The military units are believed to be from the Martial Law Command, which was established in response to the martial law emergency. 

The Martial Law Command announced that all political activities, including those of the National Assembly and political parties, would be banned.  

It also said that the media and various publications would also be controlled by them.  

The National Assembly passed a resolution calling for the lifting of emergency martial law.

And then, the speaker of the National Assembly announced that martial law has been annulled .  

The South Korean constitution states that if a majority of the members of the National  

Assembly demands the lifting of martial law; the president must lift it.  

In response, President Yoon made it clear that he would accept the request of the National Assembly, and the lifting of martial law was officially approved at a special cabinet meeting that followed early on the morning of December 4. 

However, both the ruling and opposition parties have criticized President Yoon's actions, and confusion and unrest are likely to continue for some time to come.