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Rabat – South Korea was thrown into political unrest on Tuesday evening after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in response to rising tensions with the opposition-controlled National Assembly.
Yoon made a live broadcast announcing that the country will be under martial law, accusing the Democratic Party of attempting to undermine the nation’s democracy. He claimed that the party was collaborating with North Korean forces to destroy the country, and that their actions – including blocking his government’s proposed budget and impeachment of his cabinet members – amounted to anti-state behavior.
Yoon’s declaration also included the suspension of political activities, including those conducted by political parties, rallies, and even the work of the National Assembly. In addition, the media would be strictly controlled, and strikes or work stoppages would be banned under martial law.
The public was warned that anyone engaging in acts of protest, including strikes, would face severe punishment. These drastic measures were introduced with the justification of protecting the “liberal democracy” of South Korea from subversive forces, which Yoon claimed were threatening to overthrow the government.
An escalation of tensions
Following the martial law announcement, tensions escalated quickly. By 1 a.m. this morning, lawmakers from across the political spectrum began to mobilize, leading to an emergency session of the National Assembly. Despite strong efforts by the military to prevent any actions, the National Assembly voted unanimously (190–0) to lift martial law. This vote was met with heavy resistance from security forces, including the deployment of military personnel who attempted to block lawmakers from entering the National Assembly building.
Protests quickly spread across South Korea as citizens expressed outrage at Yoon’s actions. The protestors, joined by opposition party members, called for the resignation or impeachment of the president, claiming that his declaration of martial law was a violation of the Constitution. Soon after, clashes erupted between police and protests throughout the night.
At around 4:30 a.m., following an emergency Cabinet meeting, Yoon announced that he would lift the martial law order. Military personnel were withdrawn from the National Assembly, and the Martial Law Command was disbanded.
This decision came after intense pressure from lawmakers and protests across the country. Despite the lifting of martial law, the opposition was determined to pursue impeachment proceedings as they warned that if Yoon did not step down, they would begin the process to remove him from office.
Although Yoon decided to retreat under pressure, the crisis has left South Korea in deep political divisions and fears about the erosion of its democratic principles.
A historical moment
The president’s decision marked an unprecedented move in the country’s history, as martial law had not been declared since the 1980 military coup.
The declaration of martial law came in the wake of rising tensions between President Yoon’s administration and the opposition-controlled National Assembly. Since his election in 2022, Yoon’s approval ratings have plummeted, with surveys showing significant discontent among South Koreans.
By November 2024, a majority of citizens expressed a desire for his resignation or impeachment. His administration faced increasing resistance from the National Assembly, controlled by the opposition Democratic Party, which had blocked key policy proposals and refused to approve his budget. The opposition had also launched investigations into Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon-hee, amid corruption allegations involving senior officials.
Yoon’s decision to declare martial law was seen by many as an attempt to regain control, particularly after his rejection of the National Assembly’s impeachment attempts and their decision to block his government’s budget. His political opponents had also pushed for the impeachment of senior figures in his government, including the Board of Audit and Inspection Chair and prosecutors involved in scandals surrounding his wife.
