President South Korea declares martial law, cuts off access to parliament

The president’s decision sparks major controversy. Han Dong-hoon, the party leader of the PPP that includes President Yoon Suk-yeol, said invoking martial law is “wrong” and that he would oppose the measure. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, of the Democratic Party of Korea, has already called on her parliamentarians to meet at the National Assembly, South Korea’s parliament. TV images show that security forces are present en masse at the entrance of the building. Helicopters are also landing on the roof of the parliament building, while large crowds are gathering outside parliament.

According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, all employees would be denied access to parliament. Images show people trying to enter parliament, but are blocked by the police. According to BBC soldiers would have entered parliament. (Read more below the photo)

“To protect a liberal South Korea from the threat of North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements, I hereby declare a state of emergency,” Yoon Suk-yeol said in a live television address on Tuesday evening. He would also take the measure to protect freedom and the constitutional order, among other things. The president accuses the opposition of paralyzing the country’s government with attempts to oust him.

Yoon labeled the opposition’s actions as “clearly anti-state behavior aimed at inciting rebellion.” He further claimed that these actions have “paralyzed state affairs and turned the National Assembly into a den of criminals.”

The president accused the opposition of turning the country into a “drug haven” and creating a state of disorder detrimental to public safety and livelihoods. He also said that the Democratic Party was trying to overthrow the liberal democratic system, stating: “The National Assembly has become a monster that is undermining liberal democracy and the nation is in a parlous state, teetering on the edge of the abyss.” (Read more below the photo)

Emergency measures

Martial law makes it possible to take temporary emergency measures, for example restricting civil rights. The army will be given extensive powers to monitor compliance with the emergency measures. The president did not say what measures he would take. He did refer to a motion by the opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, to oust top prosecutors and reject a government budget proposal.

Under South Korean law, martial law must be lifted if a majority of parliament requests it in a vote.

Top general Park An-su also said in a statement that all press publications would now be under government control. Furthermore, all forms of protest, including strikes and “gatherings that provoke social unrest” are prohibited. The leaves of all healthcare workers have been cancelled. Anyone who breaks the rules can be arrested.