The surprise intervention comes as Mr. Yoon’s People Power Party continues to battle with the main opposition Democratic Party over next year’s proposed budget.
Opposition MPs approved a significantly reduced budget program last week through a committee.
South Korea to study possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine
“Our National Assembly has become a haven of criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship that seeks to paralyze the administrative and judicial systems and overthrow our liberal democratic order,” Yoon said.
He accused the elected representatives of the opposition of cutting “all budgets essential to the primary functions of the nation which are the fight against drug-related crimes and the maintenance of public security (…) transforming the country into a a drug haven and a place of chaos for public safety.”
Mr. Yoon went on to characterize the opposition, which holds a majority in Parliament, as “forces hostile to the state intending to overthrow the regime.” He assured that his decision was “inevitable”.
“I will restore normalcy to the country by getting rid of these anti-state forces as soon as possible,” added the South Korean president.
Helicopters on the roof of parliament
South Korea’s parliament was placed under seal on Tuesday according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency and helicopters landed on its roof after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.
Helicopters landed on the roof of the parliament building in Seoul, according to live footage broadcast by television channels.
