South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the nation in a televised address late Tuesday, declaring martial law and calling in troops to secure the National Assembly building where parliament sits.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the nation in a televised address, declaring martial law and calling in troops to secure the National Assembly building where parliament sits.

Within the span of a chaotic six hours, South Korea saw its president declare emergency martial law, be denounced by his own conservative party leader, and withdraw his announcement once again, leaving the nation reeling. The last time a president declared martial law in South Korea was in 1980, seven years before the country became a democracy.