South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has declared a state of emergency in the country, accusing the opposition of “anti-state activities.”
Suk said he would “restore a free and democratic country through a state of emergency.”
The South Korean president accused the opposition of “controlling parliament, sympathizing with North Korea, and paralyzing the government with anti-state activities.”
He declared the state of emergency during an address to the nation in order to defend the country’s constitutional order.
Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament.
South Korea’s military has announced the suspension of all parliamentary activities, South Korean media reported on Tuesday after the declaration of a state of emergency, with live footage broadcast by television channels showing helicopters landing on the roof of the parliament building in Seoul.
The Yonhap news agency reported that members of the National Assembly were barred from entering the building. In the meantime, the military has allowed members of parliament to enter the building.
South Korea’s parliament is reportedly set to vote on whether to block the declaration of a state of emergency previously declared by the South Korean president, Yonhap and Reuters reported. Both the ruling party and the opposition initially condemned the president’s declaration of a state of emergency. The declaration of a state of emergency essentially means the imposition of military powers and could mean the suspension of normal civil rights.
In the meantime, footage has been circulating on social media since the declaration of a state of emergency, showing a heavy police presence outside parliament in the South Korean capital, Seoul.
Protesters gathered outside parliament, chanting “no to martial law,” “down with dictatorship,” and “open the door,” with sirens blaring intermittently. Dozens of police patrol cars and riot police buses are gathering.
South Korean President Yun Suk-jeol declared a state of emergency on Tuesday amid a heated parliamentary debate on the budget, a decision that the opposition leader called “illegal” and called for protests.
“In order to protect liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korean communist forces and eliminate elements hostile to the state (…), I am declaring martial law,” the president said in a surprise live televised speech.
“Without concern for the people’s livelihood, the opposition party has paralyzed the government for the purpose of impeachment, special investigations, and protecting its leader from prosecution,” he said.
All political activities have been banned and the media has been placed under government control, Army Chief Park An-su said in a statement afterward.
South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung called martial law “illegal” and called on people to gather outside parliament in protest.
“The illegal imposition of martial law by President Jun Suk Jol is not valid,” said Lee, who narrowly lost to Jun in the 2022 election. He called on citizens to join in opposing martial law.
