Yoon Suk-yeol, President of South Korea
Yoon Suk Yeol, president of South Korea, declared an emergency martial law. Parliamentary activity is suspended in the country and .
This Tuesday, the South Korean president announced on a local television station the declaration of martial law, to “protect the country from the communist forces of North Korea”.
Yoon stated that the decision to decree martial law was taken to fend off pro-North Korea forces of the country and to protect the liberal constitutional order.
The president said he had no choice but to resort to martial law, but he did not detail in his speech which specific measures would be adopted, focusing more on critical of the internal opposition and the North Korean threat.
“I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order”, he stated, quoted by
Martial law is a temporary regime decreed by military authorities in a time of emergency, when civil authorities are considered unable to function. Theoretically, it is a temporary measure, but it has implications for civil liberties.
Martial law concerns the suspension of civil lawrestricting citizens’ rights and giving more power to the Armed Forces, so that they can guarantee security and face an aggressor.
The president also cited a opposition Democratic Party motionwhich has a majority in Parliament, in order to dismiss magistrates from the Public Ministry and reject a Government budget proposal.
It is the first time since 1980 that martial law has been declared in South Korea, a decade in which the country’s government became democratic.
“Tanks, armored vehicles and soldiers armed with pistols and knives will rule the country. The economy of the Republic of Korea will collapse irreversibly. My fellow citizens, please come to the National Assembly”, he reacted Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Partywhich has a majority in parliament and which is completely opposed to the media.
The conservative party of which the president is a member condemns the measure, and Han Dong-hoonparty leader, considered the decision “wrong”, promising “prevent it from the people”.
Lee calls citizens to the door of Parliament at the same time that South Korean media, cited by , report that the country’s army announced the suspension of all parliamentary activity.
Yonhap News Agency also states that members of the National Assembly were banned from accessing the building.
The South Korean president has recently faced low approval ratings due to several controversies and scandals (namely involving his wife, accused of corruption — last month, Yoon apologized for her behavior).
Yoon is also having difficulties in advancing their political agenda in parliament, as it is controlled by the opposition.
