The president of South Korea has declared “emergency martial law”, accusing the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament and sympathising with North Korea.
Yoon Suk Yeol announced he was taking the step, which enacts temporary rule by the military, during a televised briefing on Tuesday, saying it was critical for defending the country’s constitutional order.
“I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order,” Mr Yoon said.
It is not immediately clear how the steps will affect the country’s governance and democracy.
South Korean news channel YTN reported that the opposition Democratic Party, which is led by Lee Jae-myung, said parliament will try to “nullify” the president’s martial law, according to Reuters.
The leader of the country’s Ruling People Power Party, Han Dong-hoon, called the martial law “wrong” and vowed to block it, according to YTN.
Since taking office in 2022, Mr Yoon has struggled to push his agendas against an opposition-controlled parliament.
His conservative People Power Party has been in a deadlock with the liberal Democratic Party over next year’s budget bill.
Mr Yoon has also dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials – drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals.
Martial law is typically temporary, but it can continue indefinitely. It is most often declared in times of war and/or emergencies such as civil unrest and natural disasters.
The implementation of martial law can have legal impacts, such as the suspension of normal civil rights and the extension of military law.