South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday, accusing the country’s main opposition party of harboring pro-North Korean sympathies and engaging in “anti-state” activities.
Opposition leaders have condemned the move as unconstitutional and vowed to resist it through all possible means.
There is political strife between Yoon’s ruling People Power Party and the opposition Democratic Party, which holds a majority in parliament. The two parties have been locked in a bitter battle over the national budget which escalated into a broader political crisis.
In a televised address delivered late in the night, Yoon justified his unprecedented decision, stating, “This action was necessary to protect the free Republic of Korea from the looming threat of North Korean communist forces and to dismantle the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state entities that are undermining the freedom and happiness of our people. It is imperative to preserve our free constitutional order.”
Yoon also accused opposition leaders of paralyzing the country’s parliamentary system and creating a crisis that left him no alternative but to take drastic measures.
The opposition Democratic Party, led by Lee Jae-myung, swiftly denounced the martial law declaration, describing it as a grave affront to South Korea’s democracy. In an online live stream, Lee warned of dire consequences for the nation:
“Tanks, armored personnel carriers, and soldiers with guns and knives will dominate our streets. The economy of the Republic of Korea will collapse beyond repair. My fellow citizens, I urge you to come to the National Assembly and stand against this unconstitutional act,” Lee said.
Parliament responded by passing a motion demanding that Yoon rescind the martial law order. Videos circulated online showed parliamentary staffers attempting to block armed military forces from breaching the National Assembly building by using fire extinguishers as makeshift defenses.
The United States, a key ally of South Korea, issued a brief statement through the Department of Defense, stating, “The Administration is in contact with the ROK government and is closely monitoring the situation.” However, there has been no official comment yet from the White House or the U.S. State Department.
This is the first time in over four decades that martial law has been declared in South Korea. The last such instance occurred in 1980, when then-dictator Chun Doo-hwan imposed martial law following a military coup.
According to Robert Seiler, a political commentator, Yoon’s martial law decision reflects his inability to navigate the challenges posed by a fragmented and increasingly combative political landscape. “This move is as much about reasserting control as it is about silencing dissent,” Seiler noted.
