South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3, citing threats from North Korean forces and accusing opposition members of insurrection. This unprecedented move, the first since 1980, has sparked significant political turmoil, with opposition leader Lee Jae-Myung calling it illegal. Martial law includes a ban on political activities and heightened security measures. Clashes between police and protesters ensued, and a vote in Parliament demanded the repeal of the declaration, attracting international concern.
Surprising Declaration of Martial Law in South Korea
In a shocking turn of events, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made an unexpected announcement during a live televised address on Tuesday, December 3. The president declared martial law, citing the need to safeguard the nation from “North Korean communist forces.” In his speech, he emphasized, “To protect liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korean communist forces and to eliminate hostile elements to the state (…) I declare a state of emergency martial law.” This declaration follows accusations against his opponents of orchestrating an “insurrection” aimed at toppling the democratic framework.
Political Turmoil and Reactions
This marks the first instance of martial law being instituted in South Korea, a nation of 51 million, since the military uprising in 1980. Opposition leader Lee Jae-Myung quickly labeled the action as “illegal.” Tensions between President Yoon, a former Attorney General, and the opposition, which holds the majority in Parliament, have escalated since his election in May 2022. In his address, Yoon accused the opposition of misusing their power to dismiss his ministers and obstruct his government’s budget proposals, actions he claimed had “paralyzed the administration.”
His unexpected announcement arrives amid ongoing disputes between his People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party regarding the upcoming budget. Following a committee meeting, opposition lawmakers had recently endorsed a significantly reduced budget plan. Yoon contended that the opposition’s actions indicated an intent to “overthrow the regime,” deeming his martial law declaration “inevitable.” He expressed his commitment to restoring normalcy by swiftly eliminating what he called hostile forces against the state.
The immediate consequences of the martial law, which took effect at 11 PM (3 PM in Paris), include a ban on political activities and the sealing off of Parliament. Reports from Yonhap indicated heightened security measures, including helicopters landing on the Parliament roof and police establishing a presence around the area.
General Park An-soo, appointed as the martial law commander, announced that “all media and publications are under control” of this command. The military also stated that individuals violating the decree could be arrested without a warrant. According to reports, the decision to impose martial law was made by a select group around the president.
Even within the ruling party, there was dissent. Han Dong-Hoon, a prominent figure aligned with Yoon, criticized the move as unconstitutional, suggesting that a parliamentary vote would have sufficed for any necessary changes. Shortly after Yoon’s speech, access to Parliament was restricted. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung condemned the martial law as invalid, inviting citizens to join him in opposing the declaration. Following the sealing of Parliament, clashes erupted between police and protesters, with military reinforcements deployed to the scene.
In a notable development, 190 out of the 300 lawmakers present managed to convene a vote demanding the immediate repeal of martial law. The situation has attracted international attention, with the United States stating it is “closely monitoring” developments. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in South Korea has advised its citizens to exercise caution, urging them to remain calm and vigilant while limiting unnecessary outings and being careful when expressing political opinions.