South Korean president reverses martial law decree after night of protests

South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Wednesday morning that he would lift the martial law decree which he had made in a live television broadcast late on Tuesday, following a chaotic night during which protesters stormed South Korea's National Assembly. Yoon said in his televised emergency address on Tuesday that he was declaring martial law to eradicate anti-state forces and uphold free constitutional order. He said that martial law was necessary to ensure people's freedom, safety and national sustainability in the face of anti-state forces seeking to overthrow the country, vowing to eliminate the anti-state forces and normalize the country as soon as possible. Protesters gathered outside the National Assembly soon after, chanting for the president to lift the martial law decree, and clashing with security forces as they attempted to block access to the assembly compound. Early on Wednesday, South Korea's National Assembly voted unanimously to rescind the martial law decree with 18 lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party and 172 lawmakers of opposition parties in attendance and voting in favor. South Korea's constitution says the president must lift a martial law decree when a majority of the 300-member assembly vote to overturn the decree. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said the unanimous vote rendered the martial law declaration invalid.