President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea has announced his intention to revoke a martial law declaration he issued mere hours earlier, in response to a parliamentary vote against the measure.
Initially, Mr. Yoon imposed martial law to counter “anti-state forces” among his adversaries.
However, furious lawmakers dismissed the decree as protests erupted outside parliament, marking the country’s most significant political turmoil in decades.
The unexpected move by Mr. Yoon, framed as a response to political challengers, was unanimously rejected by 190 members of the parliament.
Members of his own political party called on him to rescind the order.
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The political crisis in a nation that has enjoyed democracy since the 1980s, and is both a U.S. ally and a significant Asian economy, has drawn international concern.
Military representatives had previously stated that martial law would remain in place until Mr. Yoon decided to lift it, despite the overwhelming parliamentary vote against it.
According to the constitution, martial law must be repealed when a majority in parliament demands it, but it was unclear initially whether Mr. Yoon would comply.
The parliament was locked down, with helicopters landing on the roof as army chief General Park An-su assumed command as martial law commander and promptly issued a decree prohibiting “all political activities”.
For a brief period, troops entered the building while hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside, chanting for Mr. Yoon’s arrest and confronting security forces stationed at parliament.
Watch: Demonstrators assemble outside the National Parliament in Seoul
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Mr. Yoon accused the opposition of acting as “anti-state forces determined to overthrow the regime” during the ongoing parliamentary disputes regarding a budget bill.
“In order to protect a liberal South Korea from threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate those anti-state elements infringing upon the freedom and happiness of the people, I hereby declare emergency martial law,” Mr. Yoon declared in a live broadcast to the nation.
“The opposition party has paralyzed governance without regard for the well-being of the people, focusing solely on impeachments, special investigations, and protecting their leader from justice,” he continued.
This sudden action followed disputes between Mr. Yoon’s People Power Party and the principal opposition Democratic Party over next year’s budget proposal.
Last week, opposition members approved a significantly reduced budget plan through a parliamentary committee.
The opposition has cut approximately 4.1 trillion won (€2.6 billion) from Mr. Yoon’s suggested 677 trillion won budget plan, reducing the government’s reserve fund as well as the budget for Mr. Yoon’s office, the prosecution, police forces, and the state audit agency.
“Our National Assembly has become a refuge for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship attempting to paralyze the judicial and administrative systems and disrupt our liberal democratic order,” Mr. Yoon stated.
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol
The Irish Embassy in Korea has acknowledged the swift implementation of martial law and is “monitoring the ongoing situation.”
It has advised Irish citizens to adhere to instructions from Korean authorities, stay updated through reliable media outlets, and refrain from participating in any public demonstrations.
The Embassy is aware of the sudden implementation of martial law in , and is monitoring the unfolding situation. Irish citizens – please follow instructions of Korean authorities, keep updated by following reliable media sources, and avoid any public demonstrations at this time
— Irish Embassy Korea (@IrishEmbKorea) December 3, 2024
‘Public safety chaos’
President Yoon, a former prosecutor, accused opposition politicians of eliminating “all key budgets vital to the nation’s core functions, including efforts to combat drug-related crimes and ensure public safety, thereby transforming the country into a drug haven and a state of public safety chaos.”
The president further labeled the opposition, which holds the majority in the 300-member parliament, as “anti-state forces aimed at toppling the regime.”
Mr. Yoon characterized the establishment of martial law as “necessary to ensure the continuity of a liberal South Korea,” asserting that it would not affect the nation’s foreign policy.
“I will work to restore normalcy in the country by removing anti-state forces as soon as possible,” he stated, without elaborating further on the ongoing martial law.
He noted the current predicament as South Korea “on the brink of collapse, with the National Assembly acting as a monster intent on dismantling liberal democracy.”
