South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law.

Then-South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, the first such decree in the country since 1980. He justified the move by claiming it was necessary to protect the "constitutional democratic order" from "anti-state forces" in the opposition-controlled parliament. Immediate Response and Lifting: • National Assembly Vote: Within six hours of the declaration, 190 lawmakers - who had scaled fences to bypass a military blockade - voted unanimously to demand the lifting of the decree. • Withdrawal: Faced with the legislative vote and massive public protests, Yoon lifted the martial law order at 4:30 a.m. on December 4, 2024. Political Consequences: • Impeachment and Removal: The National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon on December 14, 2024. On April 4, 2025, the Constitutional Court of Korea upheld the impeachment in a unanimous 8–0 decision, formally removing him from office. Following the suspension and eventual removal of Yoon Suk Yeol, the South Korean presidency was held by the following individuals: • Han Duck-soo (Acting President): Served from December 14, 2024, until his own duties were suspended by a National Assembly impeachment vote on December 27, 2024. • Choi Sang-mok (Acting President): The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance assumed duties on December 27, 2024, during Han’s suspension. • Han Duck-soo (Acting President): Reinstated on March 24, 2025, after the Constitutional Court overturned his impeachment. He continued as acting president until his resignation on May 1, 2025. • Lee Ju-ho (Acting President): The Minister of Education assumed the role on May 2, 2025, after Han Duck-soo and his first successor, Choi Sang-mok, both resigned on May 1. • Lee Jae Myung (21st President): Elected in a snap election on June 3, 2025, and officially inaugurated on June 4, 2025.