Seoul: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced on Wednesday that he would rescind a martial law declaration issued just hours earlier, retreating in the face of parliamentary opposition that rejected his attempt to suppress political activity and impose media censorship.

Yoon had declared martial law late Tuesday, citing a need to counter "anti-state forces" among his political rivals. The move triggered a swift and unprecedented backlash, with 190 lawmakers in parliament unanimously voting to overturn the decree, making it legally binding for the president to revoke martial law. Even members of Yoon's own party called for its repeal.

Protests erupted outside parliament, where demonstrators celebrated the reversal with chants of "We won!" and the beating of drums. The crisis has been described as South Korea's most significant political upheaval in decades.

The declaration, delivered during a late-night televised address, had granted the military authority to suspend the activities of political parties and parliament while placing media outlets under martial law control. This marked the first imposition of martial law in South Korea since 1980, a stark contrast for a nation that transitioned to democracy in the 1980s and is now a key U.S. ally and economic power in Asia.

Yoon's focus on domestic political opponents, rather than citing external threats such as North Korea, raised widespread concerns. Internationally, the move alarmed allies, with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell expressing "grave concern" and urging the resolution of disputes through peaceful and lawful means.

Yoon has since announced plans for an urgent cabinet meeting to formally revoke the decree, seeking to stabilize the escalating political crisis.