Police held back protesters as they gathered outside the National Assembly building in Seoul. Opposition party staff members erected a makeshift barricade of furniture to block soldiers from entering.
These were some of the scenes as martial law was declared in the country for the first time since 1980.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ended martial law, just hours after he declared it to counter “threats from North Korea” and “anti-state activities” carried out by the country’s opposition party.
Soldiers advance to the main building of the National Assembly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul, Dec. 3, 2024.
People gather in front of the main gate of the National Assembly in Seoul, on Dec. 4, 2024, after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law.
Police attempt to hold back people trying to enter the National Assembly in front of the main gate of the National Assembly in Seoul, on Dec. 3, 2024, after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law.
Police walk near the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 4, 2024, after South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law.
South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung (C) speaks to the media at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 4, 2024, after South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.
Soldiers try to enter the National Assembly building in Seoul on Dec. 4 2024, after South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.
Military forces move outside the National Assembly, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party's staff set up a barricade to block soldiers at the National Assembly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul, Dec. 3, 2024.
Soldiers try to enter the main hall of the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 3, 2024, after South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.
Police officers block protesters outside the National Assembly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
Military forces stand outside the National Assembly, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
People gesture outside the National Assembly, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
A woman lies on a road to block a vehicle transporting an army unit, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
People block a martial law vehicle as they gather to demand South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
People gather in front of the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 4, 2024, after South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law.
Police attempt to prevent people from entering the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 4, 2024, after South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.
Police attempt to hold back people trying to enter the National Assembly in front of the main gate of the National Assembly in Seoul, on Dec. 3, 2024.
Furniture and boxes are piled up to barricade the entrance doors of the National Assembly, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
Lawmakers sit inside the hall at the National Assembly, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
Police officers keep watch outside the National Assembly, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik passes a resolution demanding the immediate lifting of martial law at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 4, 2024.
South Korean lawmakers watch screens showing a news broadcast of President Yoon Suk Yeol's speech on lifting martial law, at the main conference hall of the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 4, 2024.
South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik delivers his speech in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
A helicopter flies over the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
A helicopter flies over the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
A man wearing a national flag stands on the wall of the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024.
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