President Yoon Suk Yeol made the announcement in a late-night TV address
South Korea’s president declared Tuesday that he has put his country into a state of martial law because his government’s top opposition party is sympathizing with North Korea and anti-government activities.
President Yoon Suk Yeol made the announcement in a late-night TV address, according to CNN.
Yoo said he made the declaration in response to a motion by the opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, to impeach top prosecutors and reject a government budget proposal, the news outlet also reported.
Martial law is the temporary replacement of civilian rule by military authority, typically in response to a crisis such as war or natural disaster. However, Yoon did not say what measures he would take.
“To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements … I hereby declare emergency martial law,” Yoon said in the national address.
Parliament voted to lift the declaration hours later. All members present voted in favor of lifting the declaration, BBC reported.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik said the country’s lawmakers will “protect democracy with the people” and added that police and military personnel should withdraw from the national assembly grounds, according to CBS News.
