South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared emergency martial law on Tuesday, accusing the opposition of controlling Parliament, engaging in anti-state activities and sympathizing with North Korea. In a televised statement late in the day, which had not been announced in advance, Yoon assured that the measure is aimed at eradicating “pro-North Korean forces” and “protecting the democratic constitutional order.”
The military decree, signed by the Commander of Martial Law, General Park An-su, and translated by the Reuters agency, stipulates that all political activities, including those of the National Assembly, are prohibited; all media and publications will be under the control of the Martial Law Command; “All acts that deny or attempt to overthrow the liberal democratic system, as well as fake news, the manipulation of public opinion and false propaganda,” are also prohibited, according to the text. Strikes, work stoppages and gatherings that incite social chaos are also prohibited. Violators may be arrested, detained and searched without a warrant.
Different videos published on social networks show clashes in front of the National Assembly between protesters who appear to be trying to enter the building and police officers who try to block them. Martial Command forces have also begun to access the Parliament area, according to Reuters.
Opposition politicians have reacted immediately. Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, has called Yoon’s announcement “illegal and unconstitutional,” according to AP. Even Yoon’s party leader, Han Dong-hoon, has called the decision “wrong” and has promised to “stop it with the people.”
The decision came after the main opposition force, the center-left Democratic Party, which has a majority in the National Assembly (Parliament), approved it quickly and without the support of the conservative and ruling Party of People’s Power (PPP) of Yoon, a reduced budget bill in the parliamentary budget committee, and will present impeachment motions against the state auditor and the chief prosecutor, according to the South Korean agency Yonhap.
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