Emergency Martial Law Declared in South Korea: Yoon Takes Extreme Action to Tackle Political Crisis

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared an emergency martial law on Tuesday, citing an urgent need to safeguard the nation’s democratic system and address what he described as unprecedented political and legislative challenges.

In a late-night briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office, Yoon announced, “Through this state of emergency, I will rebuild and safeguard the free Republic of Korea, which is teetering on the edge of national ruin. To this end, I am committed to eradicating the anti-national forces engaging in malicious activities.”

Yoon criticized the opposition-controlled National Assembly, accusing it of paralyzing the government by initiating impeachment proceedings against 22 officials since his administration began. “This is unprecedented, not only globally but also in our nation’s history,” he stated, adding that the Assembly was now pursuing the impeachment of its 10th official under the 22nd National Assembly.

He accused the opposition of undermining the judiciary by intimidating judges and impeaching prosecutors, as well as attempting to cripple the executive branch by targeting key officials, including the Ministers of the Interior and National Defense, and the heads of the Korea Communications Commission and the Board of Audit and Inspection.

Yoon alleged that opposition lawmakers had cut approximately 4.1 trillion won (about $3 billion) from next year’s budget, impacting funds for disaster response reserves, childcare support, youth employment, and military personnel benefits. He accused them of turning the country into a drug haven and creating chaos in public safety, criticizing the budget cuts as reckless and dismissive of the nation’s finances and the welfare of its people.

He accused the opposition of creating “legislative tyranny” by using impeachment threats, special investigations, and political shielding to paralyze the government. “Our National Assembly has become a den of criminals attempting to overthrow our free democratic system,” Yoon declared.

Yoon framed the state of emergency as necessary to combat what he described as threats from “pro-North Korean, anti-national forces” that undermine the country’s freedom and security. “This is an unavoidable measure to safeguard our citizens’ freedom and safety, ensure our nation’s sustainability, and secure a proper country for future generations,” he said.

Through the declaration, Yoon vowed to restore stability and address the challenges posed by opposition actions. He also promised to rebuild the nation’s institutions and protect the Republic of Korea from what he described as existential threats.