The martial law declaration caught South Korea's political establishment and U.S. officials by surprise. Yoon only rescinded the measure after a broad coalition of lawmakers in the National Assembly − South Korea's Parliament − voted to block it and the country appeared to be heading toward wide-scale protests.

South Korea’s dominant opposition party moved on Wednesday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, submitting a motion a day after his declaration of martial law set off a night of political chaos. The opposition Democratic Party's motion to impeach Yoon is expected to make its way through the National Assembly in the coming days,

President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the East Asian democracy by declaring martial law only to lift the order hours later under intense pressure.