President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea declared martial law late Tuesday, before withdrawing troops hours later.

The martial law declaration caught South Korea's political establishment and U.S. officials by surprise. Yoon rescinded the measure only after a broad coalition of lawmakers in the National Assembly − South Korea's Parliament − voted to block it and the country appeared to be heading toward wide-scale protests.

South Korea is reeling over a shock martial law declaration by President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose short-lived gamble will have major implications.