ASIATODAY.ID, SEOUL – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has imposed emergency martial law, claiming that the opposition, which he accuses of being sympathetic towards the North, has been preparing a “rebellion.”
In a televised address on Tuesday, the head of state alleged that the opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, was paralyzing the government with “anti-state activities.”
“The martial law is aimed at eradicating pro-North Korean forces and to protect the constitutional order of freedom,” Yoon insisted, as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.
According to the media outlet, the country’s Defense Ministry has summoned senior military commanders for a meeting, putting the army on full alert.
Yonhap also reported that the military has announced a suspension of all parliamentary activity, with members of the National Assembly banned from entering the building.
The Democratic Party leader, Lee Jae-myung, has reportedly denounced Yoon’s decision as “unconstitutional.”
The president’s approval ratings have been dipping in recent months, with the parliamentary opposition having repeatedly derailed his agenda since he came to power back in 2022.
The long drawn-out confrontation came to a head last week as the Democratic Party shot down Yoon’s 2025 budget bill. The head of state has also been resisting calls for a probe into several scandals, involving his wife and senior officials.
The Democratic Party opposes the ruling People Power Party’s plans, insisting on an increased budget in order to “revive people’s livelihoods and the economy.” The opposition unilaterally put forth its own bill.
It has also submitted impeachment motions against a state auditor and the chief prosecutor.
South Korean president to end martial law after parliament votes to block decree
Hours later, 190 lawmakers who were able to access the National Assembly building, voted unanimously to lift the decree. The military, however, said that martial law will remain in place “until the president says otherwise.”
Opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung slammed the move as “unconsitutional” and called on military and police to resume their normal duties.
The upheaval comes after Lee’s party shot down Yoon’s 2025 budget bill last week and has been calling for probes into several scandals surrounding the president’s wife and senior officials.
03 December 2024
20:01 GMT
South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has said he will lift martial law after he convenes a cabinet meeting expected to take place within hours. The U-turn comes after lawmakers voted unanimously to block the measure as protesters gathered outside the National Assembly.
Yoon also said that the military had been withdrawn from around the building.The president came under massive pressure from both his own party and the opposition after the shock decision to impose martial law on Tuesday night.
19:43 GMT
Former South Korean Foreign Minister Kyung-wha Kang has told CNN that Tuesday’s declaration of martial law was totally unwarranted and “shocking.”According to Kang, “nothing in the circumstances around the country warranted this” and the move will only undermine the authority of President Yoon.
She said the decree was made “out of the blue” and bypassed the requirement to consult cabinet members.
“It doesn’t seem any of the ministers were aware that this was going to happen, aside from the defense minister obviously,” she said.
She called statements from the ruling and opposition parties, both of which criticized Yoon for the decision, “very stabilizing.”
18:43 GMT
Lawmakers are still waiting to hear from President Yoon two hours after they voted to lift his martial law decree. Of the National Assembly’s 300 members, the 190 who were present in the building voted to overturn the measure at close to 1am.
18:22 GMT
South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has declared all orders relating to the declaration of martial law by President Yoon to be “unconstitutional, invalid, and illegal.”
He urged members of the armed forces and police carrying out those orders to “swiftly return to your rightful positions and faithfully carry out your original duties.”
18:17 GMT
Russia is monitoring events following the introduction of martial law in South Korea.
“The situation is alarming. We are monitoring it closely,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to the Interfax news agency.
18:09 GMT
Washington did not receive advance notice about South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s decision to impose martial law, a White House spokesperson has said, Reuters and CNN reported.
The official said the administration is “seriously concerned” by the developments and is in contact with the South Korean government.
17:53 GMT
According to the Guardian, US President Joe Biden has just told reporters that he hasn’t heard all the details of the unfolding situation in Seoul. Asked about the developments after giving a speech in Luanda, Angola, Biden said he was “just getting briefed.”
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg has said the US embassy and Department of State are still “closely tracking” events and “the situation is fluid.”
17:45 GMT
A senior US foreign policy official has told CNN that the lack of direct response from President Joe Biden to events in Seoul so far is “pretty insane,” particularly given the close relationship between the two nations.
However, the official added that the delayed response is probably because the administration was likely caught off guard by the situation.
17:33 GMT
Protesters gathered outside South Korea’s National Assembly have begun calling for the arrest and imprisonment of President Yoon Suk Yeol after he imposed martial law on Tuesday night. (RT)
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