Violence has erupted outside South Korea’s National Assembly building after President Yoon Suk Yeol sensationally declared emergency martial law today, prompting hordes of angry citizens to clash with riot cops and security forces.
Yoon delivered a shocking late-night address in which he vowed ‘to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces plundering the happiness of our people and to protect the constitutional order.’
He went on to accuse his country’s opposition of controlling the parliament and hamstringing the government through anti-state activities before asking his citizens to ‘believe in him’ and ‘tolerate some inconveniences’.
‘With no regard for the livelihoods of the people, the opposition party has paralysed governance solely for the sake of impeachments, special investigations, and shielding their leader from justice… Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the depths of national ruin.’
His address sparked immediate chaos as disgruntled citizens took to the streets and marched on the parliament building in Seoul, with shocking images showing dozens of riot cops and armed police officers pushing back enraged rioters outside the National Assembly as night fell.
Meanwhile, news cameras captured the moment helicopters descended from the evening skies and landed on top of the parliament building before troops disembarked and began locking down the location.
‘All political activities, including those of the National Assembly, local councils, political parties, and political associations, as well as assemblies and demonstrations, are strictly prohibited,’ martial law commander Park An-su said in a statement, adding: ‘All media and publications shall be subject to the control of the Martial Law Command.’
The Yonhap news agency confirmed that citizens can now be arrested without a warrant under the new regulations.
Thousands of doctors who have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical school have also been ordered to return to work within 48 hours.
Soldiers prepare to advance to the main building of the National Assembly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul, South Korea, December 3, 2024
People gather in front of the main gate of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea on December 4, 2024
Police officers stand guard in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024
Police officers stand guard in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024
helicopter flies around the National Assembly hall after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul, South Korea, December 3, 2024
Police attempt to hold back people trying to enter the National Assembly in front of the main gate of the National Assembly in Seoul
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared emergency martial law, saying the measure was necessary to protect the country from ‘communist forces’ in North Korea and ‘anti-state’ actors in his own nation
The move comes as a complete shock in the Western-aligned Asian nation of more than 50 million which despite escalating tensions with its foe to the North is not fighting an active war and has not suffered attacks on its soil.
Since taking office in 2022, Yoon had struggled to push his agendas against an opposition-controlled parliament, raising suspicions the sudden implementation of martial law was a political ploy to exercise greater power.
His declaration drew immediate opposition from politicians, including the leader of his own conservative People Power Party, Han Dong-hoon, who called the decision ‘wrong’ and vowed to ‘stop it with the people.’
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, called Yoon’s announcement ‘illegal and unconstitutional.’
The declaration of martial law comes one day after the opposition Democratic Party – which has a majority in parliament – put forward a motion to impeach some of South Korea’s top prosecutors having recently rejected a government budget proposal.
Opposition MPs last week approved a significantly downsized budget plan through a parliamentary committee.
Yoon’s popularity has declined in recent months after he dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials – drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals.
Police officers stand guard in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3
People try to enter as police officers stand guard in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024
A man holds the South Korea flag outside the National Assembly in Seoul on December 4, 2024
People gather in front of the main gate of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea on December 4
People at a bus terminal in Seoul watch a TV screen showing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol´s televised briefing (Ahn Young-joon/AP)
Yoon’s popularity has declined in recent months after he dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials
In his stunning address this afternoon, Yoon declared: ‘Our National Assembly has become a haven for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship that seeks to paralyse the judicial and administrative systems and overturn our liberal democratic order.’
He accused opposition lawmakers of cutting ‘all key budgets essential to the nation’s core functions, such as combatting drug crimes and maintaining public security… turning the country into a drug haven and a state of public safety chaos.’
Yoon went on to label the opposition, which holds a majority in the 300-member parliament, as ‘anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime’ and called his decision ‘inevitable’.
‘I will restore the country to normalcy by getting rid of anti-state forces as soon as possible,’ he said.
The Democratic Party reportedly called an emergency meeting of its legislators following Yoon’s announcement.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
