South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced martial law in an unexpected late-night address broadcast live on television, vowing to eliminate what he called “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces.” This marks the first declaration of martial law in South Korea since 1980.
The news agency reported that under the martial law command, parliamentary activities and political party operations would be suspended, and the media placed under strict control. President Yoon did not cite any direct threats from North Korea but instead targeted domestic political opponents, a move that has sent shockwaves through the country, which transitioned to democracy in the 1980s after a history of authoritarian rule.
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The Korean won sharply declined against the U.S. dollar following the announcement. A central bank official indicated readiness to implement measures to stabilize the financial markets if necessary. The White House has yet to respond, while the U.S. military command in South Korea, which oversees approximately 28,500 troops stationed there, also refrained from immediate comment.
In his speech, Yoon justified the measure as essential to protect South Korea’s constitutional order, accusing opposition forces of causing a national crisis. He labeled these groups as pro-North Korean elements undermining the country’s freedom and stability but did not provide specifics about who he was referring to or what measures would follow under martial law. Yonhap reported that military forces had blocked access to the National Assembly building.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, which holds a parliamentary majority, condemned the decision. In a live stream, he warned of economic collapse and called on citizens to gather at the National Assembly. The declaration follows tensions over the Democratic Party’s recent budget cuts and efforts to impeach senior prosecutors, actions Yoon argued were destabilizing government operations.
