Barran Press
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announced the imposition of martial law across the country, the closure of parliament, and the appointment of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to lead the nation, following a parliamentary vote that rejected these measures.
According to the Yonhap News Agency, President Yoon stated in a televised interview on Tuesday that the martial law aims to eliminate pro-North Korean forces and uphold freedom and constitutional order. In a live address aired on YTN TV, he asserted his commitment to eradicate “openly hostile state forces supporting North Korea.”
Reuters reported that the South Korean military has prohibited parliamentary and party activities, placing media outlets and publishing houses under the control of the martial law leadership. The military also ordered striking doctors to return to work within 48 hours and urged military leaders to meet and remain vigilant.
General Park Han-soo, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been tasked with enforcing martial law. He issued orders banning all political activities, including protests, across the country. The directives indicated that violators of martial law could be arrested without a judicial warrant.
In response, the South Korean parliament voted against the imposition of martial law, with 190 of its 300 members present. The opposition party had called on its representatives to attend the session, and videos circulated on social media showed clashes between demonstrators and military forces.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung condemned the actions as “illegal,” urging citizens to gather outside parliament to protest. He declared that “President Yoon Suk-yeol's unlawful decision to impose martial law is null and void,” adding in a live-streamed address, “Please, head to the National Assembly now. I will go there too.”
This declaration came after the opposition Democratic Party rejected a budget bill in parliament, marking the first imposition of martial law in South Korea since 1980. Martial law allows the government to temporarily suspend certain laws in emergency situations to address threats to national security.
In the immediate aftermath of these developments, the Chinese embassy in Seoul advised its citizens to exercise “caution.” The embassy's statement encouraged Chinese nationals in South Korea to remain calm, enhance their safety awareness, limit unnecessary movements, and be careful when expressing political opinions.
A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council stated that the Biden administration is “in communication with the Republic of Korea government and monitoring the situation closely,” emphasizing South Korea’s status as a key ally hosting thousands of U.S. troops.