People watch a TV screen at a bus terminal in Seoul on Tuesday night showing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s briefing.
Ahn Young-joon/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Ahn Young-joon/AP
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol declared an “emergency martial law” on Tuesday, accusing the opposition of paralyzing the government with anti-state activities.
In a surprise late-night TV address, Yoon said the move was needed to protect the country. He also accused the left-leaning opposition of being sympathetic with North Korea and vowed to “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.”
“Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the depths of national ruin,” Yoon declared in his speech, without specifying how the martial law would be enforced.
Yoon also asked South Koreans to have faith in him and tolerate “some inconveniences” as he vowed to “eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country.”
Yoon took office in 2022, and faces a parliament dominated by the liberal opposition People Power Party. In recent weeks, the two parties have been locked in an impasse over next year’s national budget.
In the meantime, the former chief prosecutor has been struggling with low approval ratings and has been involved in scandals, including some involving his wife.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
