Photo: Kim Hong-ji Agence France-Presse South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks at a press conference in Seoul on November 7
Agence France-Presse in Seoul
Published at 9:12 a.m. Updated at 9:51 a.m.
- Asia
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on Tuesday, saying the measure was necessary to protect the country from “North Korean communist forces” amid a heated parliamentary debate over the budget.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000“To protect liberal South Korea from threats posed by North Korean communist forces and eliminate elements hostile to the state … I declare emergency martial law,” the president said in a surprise live televised address.
“Without regard for the people’s livelihood, the opposition party has paralyzed the government, for the purpose of impeachments, special investigations and to shield its leader from prosecution,” the president said.
The surprise intervention comes as Mr. Yoon’s People Power Party continues to battle with the main opposition Democratic Party over next year’s budget plan.
Opposition lawmakers approved a significantly reduced budget plan through a committee last week.
“Our National Assembly has become a haven for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship that seeks to paralyze the administrative and judicial systems and overthrow our liberal democratic order,” Mr. Yoon said.
He accused opposition lawmakers of cutting “all budgets essential to the nation’s primary functions of combating drug-related crimes and maintaining public safety … turning the country into a drug paradise and a place of chaos for public safety.”
Mr. Yoon went on to call the opposition, which holds a majority in parliament, “anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime.” He said his decision was “inevitable.”
“I will restore normalcy to the country by getting rid of these anti-state forces as soon as possible,” the South Korean president added.