By BBC News World
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol surprised the country on Tuesday by declaring martial law in the democratic country for the first time in more than 40 years.
Yoon’s drastic measure, announced on a late-night television show, mentioned “anti-state forces” and the threat of North Korea.
But it soon became clear that she had been driven not by external threats, but by her own desperate political problems.
Still, the president’s decision caused thousands of people to gather in Parliament in protest, while opposition lawmakers rushed to push for an emergency vote to block martial law, which involves a temporary military government.
Defeated, Yoon left a few hours later to accept the Legislative vote and lift martial law.
How did the events develop?
Yoon acted desperately, like a president under siege, observers say.
After referring to political attacks by the opposition, Yoon said Tuesday that he was declaring martial law to “crush the anti-state forces that have been wreaking havoc.”
That put the military in charge temporarily, triggering the deployment of troops and police in Parliamentwhere helicopters were seen landing on the roof of the National Assembly.