SEOUL - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's shocking late-night declaration of martial law brought years of clashes with domestic opponents, the media and even his own conservative party to a head and threw his political future into doubt.

He promised to roll back that order only hours later after parliament, including some members of his own party, voted to block the move.

Yoon squeaked out a victory in the tightest presidential election in South Korean history in 2022 on a wave of discontent over economic policy, scandals and gender wars, reshaping the political future of Asia's fourth-largest economy.

He was embraced by leaders in the West as a partner in the U.S.-led effort to unify democracies against growing authoritarianism in China, Russia and elsewhere. 

But even as he talked up a foreign policy of shared democratic values, Yoon drew increasing accusations of heavy-handed leadership at home, and fears of more strident crackdowns have percolated for some time.

During his confirmation hearing as defense minister in September, Kim Yong-hyun, then Yoon's head of presidential security, denied opposition lawmakers' suggestions that his appointment was part of preparations to declare martial law.

A spokesman for Yoon did not respond to repeated phone calls.

Yoon's move comes as South Korea tries to shore up its position before the Jan. 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who clashed with Yoon's predecessor over trade and paying for U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.

"For a president who has focused so much on South Korea's international reputation, this makes South Korea look very unstable," said Mason Richey, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. "This will have a negative effect on financial and currency markets and South Korea's diplomatic place in the world."

One Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive politics, said the martial law declaration would complicate conversations about South Korea joining more multinational diplomatic efforts.

Jenny Town of the U.S.-based Stimson Center think tank said the move appeared "desperate and dangerous" and could spell the beginning of the end of Yoon's presidency.

"He was already unpopular, but this might just be the final straw to move impeachment processes forward," she said.

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