South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared “emergency martial law” on Tuesday, accusing the opposition party of controlling parliament, showing sympathy toward North Korea, and undermining the government through anti-state activities.
South Korea is focused on the security challenges posed by North Korea, which aligns itself with Russia. Pyongyang has sent troops to reinforce Moscow’s troops engaged in conflict with Ukraine’s forces.
Yoon made the announcement during a televised briefing, vowing to “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.”
“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 a live televised address.
Lee Jae-myung, the head of South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party, has described the proclamation of martial law as unconstitutional.
A television screen shows South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol speaking during a news broadcast in Goyang, northwest of Seoul on December 3, 2024, after he declared emergency martial law, saying the step was necessary…
A television screen shows South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol speaking during a news broadcast in Goyang, northwest of Seoul on December 3, 2024, after he declared emergency martial law, saying the step was necessary to protect the country from “communist forces” amid parliamentary wrangling over a budget bill. “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 a live televised address to the nation.
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What is martial law?
Martial law refers to the temporary governance by military authorities during emergencies when civilian authorities are deemed unable to operate effectively.
This usually happens during extreme circumstances such as war, natural disasters, civil unrest, or political instability.
Its enforcement can have significant legal consequences, including the suspension of standard civil rights and the imposition of military law.
How long can martial law last?
Although intended to be a short-term measure, martial law can sometimes persist indefinitely.
Why Has South Korea Declared Martial Law?
President Yoon did not reference any specific threat from the nuclear-armed North, choosing instead to target his domestic political adversaries.
He has faced persistent opposition from the National Assembly controlled by rival parties since his inauguration in May 2022, and described the declaration as essential for upholding the nation’s constitutional order. The move comes just a month after the liberal opposition, supported by the Democratic Party of Korea, accused Yoon of plotting to impose martial law as a strategy to evade impeachment over alleged abuse of power.
When Has South Korea Declared Martial Law Before?
Since the founding of the Republic of Korea on August 15, 1948, martial law has been declared 10 times in response to crises such as the Yeosu-Suncheon rebellion and the Korean War.
In the decades following the 1960s, martial law was frequently invoked amid political turmoil.
Has martial law ever been used in the US?
Andrew Jackson imposed martial law in New Orleans in 1815 to secure the city during the Battle of New Orleans. He kept the city under military control even after the battle, leading to tensions with civilians.
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, martial law was declared in Hawaii. Civilian courts were replaced with military tribunals, and the military controlled many aspects of daily life until the territory returned to civilian governance in 1944.
In 1957 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Governor Orval Faubus initially declared martial law to prevent the desegregation of Central High School. Later, President Dwight Eisenhower sent federal troops to enforce desegregation, overriding the governor’s actions and ensuring the integration of the school.