In a dramatic move that has shocked South Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Wednesday in a late-night televised address, accusing opposition parties of obstructing the legislative process. Troops were seen attempting to enter the South Korean parliament building, while parliamentary aides responded by spraying fire extinguishers in an attempt to stop them.
Yoon’s announcement came after he claimed that opposition forces were holding the parliamentary process “hostage” and vowed to eliminate “pro-North Korean anti-state forces” in a bid to preserve constitutional order. He stated that declaring martial law was necessary due to the political deadlock and described it as the only way to restore stability.
Despite Yoon’s order, South Korea’s parliament swiftly passed a motion calling for the martial law to be lifted, with 190 out of 300 lawmakers in attendance. Members of Yoon’s own party, the ruling conservative party, urged the president to reverse the decision and remove the martial law following the parliamentary vote.
The declaration has sparked protests, with crowds gathering outside the parliament building and shouting “Withdraw emergency martial law!” The military, which is overseeing the martial law, announced that political activities in the National Assembly and by political parties would be banned, and the media would be placed under its control.
The martial law, the first in South Korea since 1980, will remain in effect until President Yoon lifts it, despite the parliamentary vote. The government has also reported a significant decline in the value of the South Korean won, and economic officials are preparing measures to stabilize the market.
Critics of the move, including former President Moon Jae-in, have condemned the declaration as a threat to the country’s democracy. Moon expressed concerns about the potential collapse of democratic institutions and called for urgent action from the National Assembly and the public to protect democracy.
The situation has also drawn international attention, with the United States monitoring the situation closely. While U.S. troops stationed in South Korea to counter North Korea’s threat were not directly involved, the crisis has raised concerns about South Korea’s political stability and the potential implications for its relationship with the U.S.
