South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared “emergency martial law” on Tuesday, accusing the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the government with anti-state activities.
Yoon made the announcement during a televised briefing,┬аvowing to “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.”┬аHe declared the step as critical in defending the country’s constitutional order. It wasn’t immediately clear how the steps would affect the country’s governance and democracy.┬а
“I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of┬аKorea┬аfrom the threat of North┬аKorean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North┬аKorean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order,” Yoon said.
Yoon тАФ whose approval rating has dipped in recent months тАФ has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022.
Yoon’s conservative People Power Party had been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition Democratic Party over next year’s budget bill. He has also been dismissing calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals.
The Democratic Party reportedly called an emergency meeting of its lawmakers following Yoon’s announcement.
