MARTIAL LAW TURMOIL IN SOUTH KOREA

Under-fire president lifts crackdown after mass uproar

- CHRIS HUGHES

SOUTH Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol last night buckled under pressure and lifted his martial law decree after a huge backlash.

He had initially imposed the national crackdown during a dramatic televised briefing.

Yoon claimed the opposition Democratic Party was paralysing the government by plotting against it and sympathising with enemy North Korea.

The military briefly took over security and the general running of the country, sparking clashes with protesters on the streets of the capital Seoul.