It may seem that the wild predawn scenes in Seoul, with hundreds of armed troops and frantic lawmakers storming South Korea's parliament building after the president suddenly declared martial law, came out of nowhere.

SEOUL, South Korea — Soldiers dispatched to South Korea’s parliament building to enforce President Yoon Suk Yeol’s abrupt martial law decree Tuesday night grew confused as the attempt evaporated in the face of legislative resistance.

Many tourists in Seoul seemed largely unfazed by the political turmoil unfolding in the capital as they flocked to the city’s largest palace, local landmarks, and shopping streets.