South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol proclaimed emergency martial law on Tuesday. He accused the opposition Democratic Party of trying to “overthrow free democracy” by plotting “insurgency”. President Yoon also used a Tuesday night national television address to accuse his Democratic Party of blocking budgets and impeaching members of his government rather than taking part in the process.

Yoon labeled the opposition’s acts as “clearly anti-state behavior intended to incite rebellion.” He also claimed that these acts had “paralyzed State affairs and turned the National Assembly into a den of criminals.”

He described martial law as necessary to eliminate these “shameless pro-North anti-state forces.” The decision was justified as being essential to protect freedoms and the safety of the citizens, to ensure the sustainability of the country, and to pass on a stable and prosperous nation to future generations.

According to YTN TV, the parliament speaker will be traveling to the parliament to convene a meeting. Yonhap reported that lawmakers were unable to enter parliament because the entrance was blocked.

Yoon said the opposition was responsible for turning the country into a drug haven and creating disorder that would be detrimental to the public’s safety and livelihood. He said that the Democratic Party is trying to topple the liberal democratic system. “The National Assembly, which has undermined liberal democracy and left the nation in a precarious situation, on the brink of collapse,” he declared.

He promised the public that “we will eliminate the antistate forces as soon as possible and restore the country to normalcy.” Although he acknowledged that martial law could cause some inconvenience to the public, he pledged to make every effort to minimize its effect.

The first martial law decree issued by General Park An Su, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army, who was also appointed as commander of martial law, prohibits all political meetings, demonstrations, and strikes. The government takes control of the media, suspends arrest warrants, and subjected civilians to martial law.

  1. All political activities are prohibited, including those of the National Assembly and local councils. They also include activities by political parties, associations, and political parties, as well as rallies and demonstrations.
  2. Fake news, manipulating public opinion, and false propaganda, as well as any actions that attempt to overthrow or deny the liberal democratic system, are prohibited.
  3. The martial law controls all media and publications.
  4. All socially destructive activities, such as strikes, sabotage, and assemblies, are prohibited.
  5. Medical personnel on strike, or who have left the field of medicine, must return within 48 hours to their regular duties and work diligently. Any violations will be punished under martial law.
  6. Citizens, except subversive forces like anti-state forces, should take steps to minimize their inconveniences in daily life.

Yoon has a very low popularity, and evidence of widespread corruption is evident. This is more likely to be a desperate move by Yoon, than widespread subversion in North Korea. Yoon’s party and the opposition both condemned Yoon for declaring martial law. Biden’s national security team is confused.

The leader of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party, Han Dong-hoon, called the decision to impose martial law “wrong” and vowed to “stop it with the people.” Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, called Yoon’s announcement “illegal and unconstitutional.”

CBS News reported that a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said the Biden administration “is in close contact” with the South Korean Government and is “monitoring the situation closely.”

South Korea is no stranger to martial law. General Park Chung Hee, who was assassinated in 1972, took control of the country in a coup d’état on May 16, 1962. General Chun Doo-hwan led a coup in 1979. This led to a second military coup led by General Chun, in 1980. His rule lasted from 1979 until 1988 when he left the government voluntarily. Yoon may not have noticed this.