South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared emergency martial law, saying the measure was necessary to protect the country from ‘communist forces’ in North Korea and ‘anti-state’ actors in his own nation.
‘I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order,’ Yoon said in a televised address today.
The leader of the ‘People’s Power Party’ (PPP) went on to accuse his country’s opposition of controlling the parliament and hamstringing the government through anti-state activities before asking his citizens to ‘believe in him’ and ‘tolerate some inconveniences’.
‘With no regard for the livelihoods of the people, the opposition party has paralysed governance solely for the sake of impeachments, special investigations, and shielding their leader from justice,’ he added before vowing: ‘Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the depths of national ruin.’
The move drew immediate opposition from politicians, including the leader of his own conservative party, Han Dong-hoon, who called the decision ‘wrong’ and vowed to ‘stop it with the people.’
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, called Yoon’s announcement ‘illegal and unconstitutional.’
Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters took to the streets and headed for the parliament buildings in Seoul where they were met by riot cops and armed police protecting the perimeter as the National Assembly was sealed.
South Korea ‘s President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared emergency martial law, saying the measure was necessary to protect the country from ‘communist forces’ in North Korea and ‘anti-state’ actors in his own nation
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the third session of the G20 Leaders’ Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024.
Police officers stand guard in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024
Police officers stand guard in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024
Police attempt to hold back people trying to enter the National Assembly in front of the main gate of the National Assembly in Seoul
The move comes as a complete shock in the Western-aligned Asian nation of more than 50 million which despite escalating tensions with its foe to the North is not fighting an active war and has not suffered attacks on its soil.
Since taking office in 2022, Yoon had struggled to push his agendas against an opposition-controlled parliament, raising suspicions the sudden implementation of martial law was a political ploy to exercise greater power.
All political activities are banned in South Korea following the imposition of martial law and all media will be subject to government monitoring, martial law commander Park An-su said in a statement.
‘All political activities, including those of the National Assembly, local councils, political parties, and political associations, as well as assemblies and demonstrations, are strictly prohibited,’ he said, adding: ‘All media and publications shall be subject to the control of the Martial Law Command.’
The Yonhap news agency also confirmed that citizens can now be arrested without a warrant.
Thousands of doctors who have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical school have also been ordered to return to work within 48 hours.
Parliament buildings are now in complete lockdown with Martial Law Command forces encircling the perimeter.
Helicopters carrying military troops were also seen landing on the roof of the National Assembly.
The declaration of martial law comes one day after the opposition Democratic Party – which has a majority in parliament – put forward a motion to impeach some of South Korea’s top prosecutors having recently rejected a government budget proposal.
Opposition MPs last week approved a significantly downsized budget plan through a parliamentary committee.
Yoon’s popularity has declined in recent months after he dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials – drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals.
People at a bus terminal in Seoul watch a TV screen showing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol´s televised briefing (Ahn Young-joon/AP)
Yoon’s popularity has declined in recent months after he dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials
Police officers stand guard in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3
People try to enter as police officers stand guard in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024
‘Our National Assembly has become a haven for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship that seeks to paralyse the judicial and administrative systems and overturn our liberal democratic order,’ Yoon said in the stunning address.
He accused opposition lawmakers of cutting ‘all key budgets essential to the nation’s core functions, such as combatting drug crimes and maintaining public security… turning the country into a drug haven and a state of public safety chaos.’
Yoon went on to label the opposition, which holds a majority in the 300-member parliament, as ‘anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime’ and called his decision ‘inevitable’.
‘I will restore the country to normalcy by getting rid of anti-state forces as soon as possible,’ he said.
The Democratic Party reportedly called an emergency meeting of its legislators following Yoon’s announcement.
Photos and videos circulated on social media showed heavily armed security forces and riot police pushing back an angry mob outside the National Assembly in Seoul.
