Yoon was forced to back down and lifted the martial law order just hours later, after lawmakers unanimously voted to block the decree amid a fierce national outcry.
That was the last time martial law was declared in South Korea.
Seoul citizens walk beside an army tank on Saturday, Oct. 27, 1979, after martial law was declared following the death of President Park Chung-Hee.
Outsted South Korean leader Park Geun-hye arrives at a court in Seoul, South Korea, August 25, 2017.
Yoon also faces rising discord within his party, which has opposed his move to introduce martial law and called it unconstitutional.
Persons:
Park Chung, Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, “, ”, Yoon’s, Chun, Hee, Kim Chon, Roh Moo, Lee Myung, Chung, Park, hye, Kim Hong, Leif, Eric Easley, Yonhap
Organizations:
CNN, Yonhap News Agency, Min Consulting, National Assembly, Ewha University, Democracy Party, People Power Party
Locations:
South Korea, South, Seoul, Japan, Gwangju, Korean