S. Korean president declares emergency martial law, warns against ‘communist forces’

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared “emergency martial law” on Tuesday, accusing the country’s opposition of controlling parliament, sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the government with anti-state activities.

“To protect liberal South Korea from threats posed by North Korean communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements… I hereby declare emergency martial law,” Yoon said in a live televised speech to the nation.

“With disregard for the livelihood of the people, the opposition party has paralyzed governance solely for the sole purpose of carrying out impeachments, opening special investigations and protecting its leader from justice,” he said. he added.

South Korea’s National Assembly was sealed Tuesday after Yoon’s statement, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported. Helicopters were seen landing on the roof of the building in Seoul, in live television footage broadcast by TV stations.

Yoon did not specify what specific measures would be taken, according to the BBC reportedBut martial law commander Park An-su said in a statement that all political activities were banned and all media would be subject to government surveillance.

“All political activities, including those of the National Assembly, local councils, political parties and political associations, as well as rallies and demonstrations, are strictly prohibited,” he said, adding: “All media and publications will be subject to the control of the martial law command.

The head of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party, Han Dong-hoon, called the decision to impose martial law “wrong” and promised to “end 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.”

The surprise move comes as Yoon’s People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party continue to squabble over next year’s budget bill. Opposition lawmakers approved a significantly reduced budget plan through a parliamentary committee last week.

“Our National Assembly has become a haven for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship that seeks to paralyze the judicial and administrative systems and overthrow our liberal democratic order,” Yoon said.

Yoon – whose popularity has plummeted in recent months – has struggled to advance his agenda in the face of an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022.

Yoon’s conservative People Power Party has found itself in a stalemate with the liberal opposition Democratic Party over next year’s budget bill. He has also rejected calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and senior officials, drawing swift and strong rebukes from his political rivals.

The Democratic Party reportedly called an emergency meeting of its lawmakers following Yoon’s announcement.

Yoon accused opposition lawmakers of cutting “all key budgets essential to the nation’s core functions, such as combating drug crimes and maintaining public safety… transforming the country into a drug haven and a state of public safety chaos.”

Yoon then called the opposition, which holds a majority in the 300-member parliament, “anti-state forces bent on overthrowing the regime” and called his decision “inevitable.”

“I will return the country to normal by getting rid of anti-state forces as soon as possible.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.