South Korea’s President Declared Martial Law To Crush "Anti-State" Forces, Plunging It Into Chaos
In a late night address at 11 pm local time, President Yoon Suk Yeol said martial law – temporary rule by the military – was necessary to eliminate "anti-state" forces.
South Korea has been thrown into chaos after the president, Yoon Suk Yeol, declared martial law on the evening of Tuesday Dec. 3.
In a late night address at 11 pm local time, Yoon said martial law – temporary rule by the military – was necessary to eliminate "anti-state" forces.
He called opposition parties “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our citizens", accusing them of trying to "overthrow the free democracy".
Yoon said martial law would help to "rebuild and protect" the country from "falling into the depth of national ruin", adding that he would eradicate pro-North Korean forces as soon as possible and "normalize" the country, AP reported.
Analysts say that Yoon had invoked martial law as he has been struggling with pushing his agenda through the parliament, which is controlled by the opposition, since 2022.
Yoon said that the opposition had "paralyzed the administration" as it had been impeaching members of his cabinet and blocking his government’s budget plans, according to the New York Times.
After the announcement, the military deployed troops and police to the parliament and issued a statement banning all political gatherings and taking control of the media.
Protests broke out outside the parliament in Seoul after Yoon's declaration, with thousands of people calling for an immediate end to martial law and for Yoon to be impeached.
Hours later, the parliament voted to lift martial law by a majority, finding the declaration invalid by 190 votes out of 300.
Under South Korean law, the president must lift martial law "without delay" after a majority vote in the parliament.
Local TV footage showed soldiers leaving the parliament after the vote.
The leader of the liberal opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, said its party's lawmakers would remain in the parliament building until Yoon formally lifted his order.
“Democratic Party lawmakers, including me and many others, will protect our country’s democracy and future and public safety, lives and properties, with our own lives,” Lee said.
Yoon and the military has not yet issued a public response to the parliamentary vote.
This was the first time a South Korean president had declared martial law since military dictatorship ended in the country in the late 1980s.
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