South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared “emergency martial law” on Tuesday, accusing opposition parties of destabilizing governance, sympathizing with North Korea, and threatening the nation’s constitutional order. This decision follows escalating political tensions between Yoon’s People Power Party and the opposition Democratic Party.
What the president said
“Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the depths of national ruin,” Yoon declared in his televised address, referring to South Korea’s official name. “I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country,” he added, while requesting citizens to maintain their trust in him and accept “some inconveniences.”
Parliament entrances blocked
After declaration of martial law, reports came in that entrance to the Parliament has been blocked amid heightened tensions. Later, Images showed policemen standing in front of the gate to the National Assembly.
‘Political activities banned’
The military announced that activities by parliament and political parties would be prohibited, and media outlets along with publishing houses would operate under direct supervision of the martial law administration, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.
Justification for martial law
Yoon defended his decision, stating that martial law was necessary to safeguard South Korea’s liberal democracy and free constitutional order from what he described as “anti-state forces.” He argued that opposition actions, including slashing the budget, were threatening public safety and stability. There has been a heated dispute over next year’s budget, with opposition lawmakers, who hold a majority in the 300-member parliament, approving a downsised proposal. Yoon criticised the opposition for slashing crucial funding, particularly for drug crime prevention and public security, and accused them of paralyzing governance.
Opposition’s condemnation and warning
The decision faced swift resistance from political figures, notably from Han Dong-hoon, the head of his own conservative party, who denounced it as “wrong” and pledged to “stop it with the people.” Lee Jae-myung, the opposition leader who was narrowly defeated by Yoon in the 2022 presidential race, criticised the announcement, labelling it “illegal and unconstitutional.”
Unclear details of martial law implementation
While Yoon emphasised the urgency of restoring order, the specifics of how the martial law would be enforced remain unclear. There was no mention of martial law measures, leaving questions about its impact on daily life and governance.