Under South Korean law, martial law can be lifted with a majority vote in the parliament, where the opposition Democratic Party holds a majority. When “the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law, the President shall, without delay, do so and announce it,” the law states.

South Korea's president declares martial law across the country in a surprise address, accusing the opposition of controlling the parliament and sympathising with North Korea. The country's parliament has voted to defy the move - with the leader's own party urging him to reverse it.