South Korean leader Yoon Suk-yeol said the announcement was in response to the opposition, which he accused of paralysing the government and sympathising with North Korea.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared an emergency martial law on Tuesday, accusing the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathising with North Korea and paralysing the government with anti-state activities.
Yoon made the announcement during a televised briefing, describing this step as “critical” for defending the country’s constitutional order.
“To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements … I hereby declare emergency martial law,” Yoon said.
“The martial law is aimed at eradicating pro-North Korean forces and to protect the constitutional order of freedom,” he added.
It wasn’t immediately clear how Yoon’s decision would affect the country’s governance and democracy.
Since taking office in 2022, the South Korean leader has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament.
The decision came after the opposition Democratic Party railroaded a downsized budget bill and submitted impeachment motions against a state auditor and the chief prosecutor, South Korean Yonhap news agency reported.
Additional sources • AP