South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared martial law in the country. He made this announcement during a late-night address on YTN television, saying it was necessary to protect South Korea from “communist forces.”
“To safeguard a free South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea and to remove anti-state elements, I declare emergency martial law,” Yoon said. He added that he plans to rebuild and protect the Republic of Korea, which he claims is facing serious threats.
He asked the public to trust him and accept “some inconveniences.” According to the military, activities by parliament and political parties will be banned, and the media will be controlled under martial law.
People watched the president’s address nationwide. Yoon accused the political opposition of controlling parliament, supporting North Korea, and disrupting the government with anti-state actions. He pointed to a motion by the Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, to impeach some top prosecutors and their rejection of a government budget proposal.
He claimed he had no choice but to take this step to protect the country’s free and constitutional order. The opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, said they would try to override the martial law declaration, calling it “illegal and unconstitutional.” He also warned that the military might arrest members of parliament.
Han Dong-hoon, leader of Yoon’s conservative party, criticized the president’s actions and promised to “stop it with the people.” It is unclear how this martial law will affect the country’s government and democracy.
Yoon’s approval rating has been falling recently, and he has had difficulty pushing his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022. His party has faced challenges in negotiating the budget for next year. Calls for independent investigations into scandals involving Yoon’s wife and some officials have been ignored by the president, leading to backlash from his political opponents.
