South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol Declares Martial Law, Protests Erupt In Response

Chaos erupted and protests broke out in South Korea on Tuesday soon after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. He accused the opposition-led Parliament of supporting North Korea. Following this announcement, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik declared the martial law invalid, and lawmakers voted against it.

Protesters soon gathered outside the National Assembly in Seoul to oppose the martial law declaration. Violent clashes between security forces and demonstr ensued as tensions escalated.

Military Presence Intensifies

A fleet of tanks and armoured vehicles, along with South Korea's martial command forces, attempted to enter Parliament amidst the protests. Social media visuals showed police guarding the National Assembly entrance, while soldiers with helmets and rifles stood by.

The Associated Press reported that at least three helicopters, likely military, landed on assembly grounds. Additionally, two or three helicopters were seen circling above the area.

President's Accusations

Earlier in the evening, President Yoon accused the opposition of plotting an "insurgency" to overthrow democracy. This was reported by The New York Times. In a televised speech, he criticised the opposition for using its majority to impeach his cabinet members and block budget plans.

Yoon stated, "The National Assembly, which should have been the foundation of free democracy, has become a monster that destroys it".

Opposition's Response

The liberal Democratic Party called for an emergency meeting in response to Yoon's declaration. Al Jazeera reported this development as tensions between political factions continued to rise.

This marks the first instance of a South Korean president declaring martial law since the late 1980s when military dictatorship ended. President Yoon has faced ongoing political conflict with the Democratic Party over next year's budget bill since his 2022 election.

President Yoon expressed his intent to rebuild a democratic nation through martial law. He stated: "To safeguard a liberal South Korea from threats posed by North Korea's communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements... I hereby declare emergency martial law," as reported by Al Jazeera.