Why did South Korea’s president declare martial law?

Soldiers attempt to enter the National Assembly building in Seoul after South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. 

South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, on Tuesday invoked martial law, a stunning move that threw the nation into turmoil.

It’s the first declaration of martial law — enabling temporary rule by the military — since the country’s democratization in 1987.

The late-night announcement prompted protests outside parliament, with lawmakers trying to scale its walls, as well as intense criticism of Yoon for short-circuiting the country’s democracy.

Why now?

Yoon said the move was necessary to counter North Korea.

In a television address, Yoon spoke of “anti-state forces,” saying martial law was necessary to eliminate them quickly and “normalize the country.”

He criticized the country’s opposition politicians, a response to a series of political setbacks that frustrated his agenda.

Yoon has suffered from low approval ratings this year and has been described as a “lame-duck president”, holding the nation’s highest office but without a majority in its legislature.

His conservative People Power Party lost a general election in April, in which the rival Democratic Party of Korea took 175 of the 300 seats in the National Assembly.

The opposition majority in parliament last week voted to cut almost $3 billion from Yoon’s 2025 budget, undermining his rule.

The opposition has also tried to impeach three top prosecutors, the Associated Press reported.

Meanwhile, Yoon has been involved in several corruption scandals, including one in which his wife is accused of manipulating stocks.

What does it mean?

Invoking martial law means parliamentary activity is banned, according to the country’s government-funded Yonhap news agency.

Anyone who violates the rules can be arrested without a warrant.

The news agency also said that media and publishers would fall under the control of the South Korean military.

Meanwhile, doctors, who have been striking for months in protest of the government’s plan to increase medical school admissions, are compelled to return to work within 48 hours.

Yoon didn’t say how long he intended to maintain martial law.

What has been the reaction?

The move alienated members of Yoon’s own party.

Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the ruling People Power Party, said imposing martial law was “wrong” and that he would “stop it with the people.”

South Korea’s main opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, described the move as unconstitutional.

Yonhap said politicians from Lee’s party had been asked to congregate outside the country’s National Assembly.

Meanwhile, hours after Yoon declared martial law, live TV showed South Korea’s parliament passing a motion requiring the law to be lifted.

The US National Security Council said on Monday: “The administration is in contact with the [Korean] government and is monitoring the situation closely.”

The value of the South Korean won fell to its lowest level since October 2022 on Tuesday.

The country’s stock-market operator said it had yet to decide whether to open for trading on Wednesday, according to The Wall Street Journal.