Soldiers wearing helmets and carrying long guns pushed back against people who tried to enter the National Assembly after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol faced parliamentary moves to impeach him after he sent heavily armed forces into Seoul's streets with his baffling and sudden declaration of martial law that harkened to the country’s past dictatorships.

South Korea's won on Tuesday cut losses after the country's parliament swiftly passed a resolution to demand the lifting of martial law.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -South Korean shares fell on Wednesday amid the country's biggest political crisis in decades as lawmakers called for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law only to reverse the move hours later.

Asian markets retreated Wednesday after overnight political drama in South Korea added to regional uncertainties, though the Kospi in Seoul fell less than 2%. U.S. futures rose while oil prices were little changed.

Political instability in South Korea has caused the nation's won to plunge in value and has shaken confidence in the nation's stock market.