South Korea Political Crisis and Martial Law Reversal

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on December 3, 2024, citing alleged anti-state activities by the opposition, only for the National Assembly to vote it down within six hours. Yoon was subsequently impeached by parliament and removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. The crisis was the most severe constitutional emergency in South Korea since the 1980s, surpassing the 1979 assassination-driven turmoil in speed of resolution, with the National Assembly's reversal occurring 50% faster than any prior martial law challenge.