South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law on Tuesday. He accused the opposition of being “anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime.” This declaration follows a heated parliamentary dispute over next year’s budget bill.
In a live televised address, Yoon justified the move. “To safeguard a liberal South Korea from North Korea’s threats and eliminate anti-state elements, I declare emergency martial law,” he said.
A Deepening Political Divide
Yoon criticized the opposition party for obstructing governance. “They have paralyzed the government for impeachments, special investigations, and protecting their leader from justice,” he added.
The conflict intensified as opposition lawmakers slashed 4.1 trillion won ($2.8 billion) from Yoon’s proposed 677 trillion won budget. Key cuts targeted reserve funds and budgets for the president’s office, police, and state audit agency.
National Assembly Branded a “Legislative Dictatorship”
Yoon labeled the opposition-led National Assembly as a “den of legislative dictatorship.” He accused it of undermining South Korea’s judicial and administrative systems. “They’ve turned the country into a haven for drugs and public safety chaos,” Yoon claimed.
Despite martial law, Yoon emphasized that foreign policy would remain unaffected. “This is necessary to ensure the survival of liberal democracy,” he stated. He pledged to “restore normalcy” by eliminating anti-state forces.
Immediate Military Response
Under martial law, all military units have heightened their emergency alert status. Yonhap News Agency reported that the National Assembly building has been sealed, barring MPs from entry.
The declaration coincides with a sharp drop in Yoon’s approval ratings. A recent Gallup poll showed his popularity at 19 percent, with criticism focused on economic management and controversies involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee.
