Viral video: South Korean leader jumps parliament wall after President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law; know why

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stunned the world on Tuesday by imposing martial law. His attempt was foiled after South Korea's lawmakers voted down the measure, forcing the cornered president to reverse his order on Wednesday. The martial law announcement also resulted in massive protests and drama.

Hours after Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration, the opposition party's South Korean National Assembly leader, Lee Jae-myung, climbed the fence of the parliament to get inside on Wednesday. Lee Jaye was live on YouTube throughout as he climbed the wall and jumped to enter the building.

South Korean leader jumps parliament wall | Watch video

The South Korean leader then tried to participate and vote against the president's motion for martial law. Social media users have been widely sharing Lee Jaye's video, where he can be seen climbing the fence and then jumping inside the parliament premises.

Why did Lee Jae-myung jump Parliament boundary after martial law declaration?

As soon as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced the imposition of martial law, several lawmakers stormed into the National Assembly in an attempt to establish a quorum and hold a vote.

Starting his live YouTube streaming while getting into his car, the Democratic Party politician Lee Jae-myung urged Koreans to converge on parliament to help lawmakers get inside, saying, “The National Assembly must vote to lift martial law,” reported AP.

Lee Jae-myung narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election. He climbed the parliament boundary and entered the building in an attempt to vote against the President's martial law announcement.

South Korea martial law

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol suspended civilian rule late Tuesday and deployed troops and helicopters outside Parliament. However, his move to impose martial law overturned when lawmakers voted down the measure and force him into a U-turn in a night of protests and drama.

Seoul's allies were alarmed -- Washington said it found out via television -- and the opposition quickly filed an impeachment motion saying Yoon "gravely violated the constitution and the law". 

The motion to impeach the president is set for Saturday at around 7:00 pm (1000 GMT), reported Reuters.