The president of South Korea proclaimed martial law in a televised address on Tuesday night, claiming that opposition parties had rendered the country susceptible to North Korean “communist forces.”
Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative who assumed office in 2022, accused the opposition party of holding South Korea captive, as the opposition party controls the National Assembly.
He referred to the constitutional order of South Korea as being threatened by the rejection of a budget proposal and impeachment proceedings against the country’s top prosecutors.
Yoon’s own governing conservative People Power Party members have declared their intention to oppose the declaration of martial law, which would be the first since 1980, when South Korea was under military rule.
#BREAKING South Korean special forces are storming the South Korean Parliament building. pic.twitter.com/GKJzrMoZdW
— Clash Report (@clashreport) December 3, 2024
On Tuesday evening, the Democratic Party, which has the authority to request the suspension of martial law, requested an emergency meeting at the National Assembly in response to Yoon’s address.
South Korea’s unicameral, 300-seat parliament is prohibited from engaging in any political activities, and rallies and protests are curtailed nationwide by the martial law command. The media of the nation will now be under government control. Other measures are also mandated, including the return to work of all medical personnel within 48 hours.
The president is obligated to comply with the National Assembly’s ability to lift martial law through a majority vote established by law.
The Democratic Party, which is in opposition, possess the majority with 170 seats.
Access to the National Assembly building, where a vote could occur, appeared to be restricted, with the entrance being supervised by police, according to local news footage.
Yoon had “called for martial law without any reasons,” according to Lee Jae-myung, the president of the Democratic Party, during a live YouTube broadcast.
In an effort to “protect the country and democracy,” Lee requested that the citizens assemble in the vicinity of the National Assembly building.
Opposition lawmakers were seen climbing over the parliament fence in a dramatic effort to reach the chamber and vote on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. pic.twitter.com/9f6vRduHzB
— Geo View (@theGeoView) December 3, 2024
Lee was observed accessing the National Assembly building by scaling a fence on the live feed. Other legislators have also entered, according to local media reports.
Prior to his narrow victory as South Korea’s president, Yoon was a career prosecutor with no political experience.
Recent surveys have indicated that his approval ratings have declined to their lowest point since his assumption of office, with a drop below 20%. According to recent polling, approximately two-thirds of South Koreans harbor negative opinions regarding Yoon’s capacity to govern the nation.
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