South Korean President Yoon declares emergency martial law

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday, threatening to destroy "anti-state" groups as he battles an opposition that controls the country's parliament and accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

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The unexpected action, which harkens back to an age of authoritarian leaders that the Korea has not experienced since the 1980s, was quickly condemned by the opposition and the leader of Yoon's own conservative party.

Following Yoon's announcement, the South Korean military proclaimed that parliament and other political meetings that may generate "social confusion" would be canceled, according to the government-funded Yonhap news agency.

The military also ordered the country's striking physicians to return to work within 48 hours, according to Yonhap. Thousands of physicians have been on strike for months, protesting the government's intentions to increase the number of medical school students.

It wasn't immediately apparent how long Yoon's martial law declaration would last. Martial law in South Korea can be repealed with a majority vote in parliament, which is now controlled by the opposition Democratic Party. Television video showed police officers blocking the National Assembly's entrance.

Han Dong-hoon, the leader of Yoon's conservative People Power Party, described the decision to implement martial law as "wrong" and promised to "stop it with the people." Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who barely lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, described Yoon's announcement as "illegal and unconstitutional."

During a televised speech, Yoon said that martial law will assist "rebuild and protect" the Korea from "falling into the depths of national ruin." He said that he will "eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order."

"I will eliminate anti-state forces as soon as possible and normalize the country," he added, urging the people to faith in him and accept "some inconveniences."

Yoon, whose support rating has declined in recent months, has struggled to advance his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022.

Yoon's party has reached a deadlock with the liberal opposition on next year's budget bill. The opposition has also attempted to impeach three top prosecutors, including the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, in what conservatives have described as a vendetta against their criminal investigations of Lee, who is widely regarded as the front-runner in the next presidential election in 2027.

Yoon has also dismissed requests for independent probes into incidents involving his wife and high officials, prompting sharp criticism from his political enemies. Following Yoon's revelation, the Democratic Party allegedly convened an emergency meeting of MPs.

Yoon's action marks the country's first declaration of martial law since its democracy in 1987. The government last declared martial rule in October 1979.