SEOUL, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Wednesday that he will lift the martial law declaration he made Tuesday night, after the parliament voted against it.
Yoon said in a televised address that martial law troops were withdrawn after the National Assembly demanded the lifting of martial law, vowing to lift the martial law at a cabinet meeting to accept the parliamentary demand.
The president convened a cabinet meeting, but the quorum was not met as it was dawn, Yoon noted.
Yoon added that he will lift the martial law as soon as the quorum is met, asking the National Assembly to stop paralyzing state affairs by trying to impeach government officials, slash the government's budget for next year and launch a special prosecutor's team for investigation into scandals involving the first lady.
Yoon declared the emergency martial law Tuesday night, marking the first martial law declaration since the country's military dictatorship ended in the late 1980s.
The National Assembly held a plenary session, passing a resolution to lift the martial law with 18 lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party and 172 lawmakers of opposition parties in attendance and voting in favor.
In accordance with the constitution, the president should lift the martial law when the 300-member parliament demands the lifting with a majority of lawmakers voting in favor. Enditem
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