South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday, marking the first martial law declaration since 1980, claiming it was necessary to eliminate “pro-North Korean anti-state forces” that threatened the country’s freedom and stability, Reuters reports.
Yoon did not point to any immediate threat from North Korea, focusing instead on domestic political opposition. He accused opposition parties, particularly the Democratic Party (DP), which holds a parliamentary majority, of creating a crisis by blocking government functions, including rejecting a budget proposal and attempting to impeach top prosecutors.
The military announced restrictions on parliamentary activities, political parties, and media, placing them under martial law command. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung condemned the move, warning it could lead to economic collapse and calling citizens to protest. The announcement caused a sharp drop in the Korean won’s value against the US dollar.
