(CLO) Immediately after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeo issued a decree declaring martial law nationwide at midnight on Tuesday (December 3), the country's military entered the National Assembly Building as a move to blockade the legislature.
Backlash from the National Assembly and the Korean people
South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted the military as saying that activities of the South Korean National Assembly and political parties would be banned, and media and publishing houses would be under martial law.
Live video and images from the scene showed South Korean parliamentary aides repelling martial law forces by spraying fire extinguishers.
Some people were heard chanting: "Revoke the emergency martial law!" outside the Capitol. There were also shouts of "Get out, get out!" and "Don't go in," referring to the military.
Soldiers advance toward the National Assembly Building in Seoul, South Korea on the night of December 3, 2024. Photo: Yonhap
Even the leader of South Korea's ruling People Power Party said President Yoon's martial law order was unconstitutional and unsupported.
Mr Yoon did not cite any specific threats from North Korea when he imposed martial law, instead focusing on his domestic political opponents. It was the first time martial law had been declared in South Korea since 1980.
"Tanks, armored personnel carriers and soldiers with guns and knives will rule the country," Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, said in an online live broadcast. "South Korea's economy will collapse beyond repair. My fellow countrymen, come to the National Assembly."
The surprise move sent shockwaves through the country and financial markets, with the South Korean won falling nearly 2% to a two-year low.
Mr. Yoon stated the reason for martial law.
Mr Yoon cited a move by the opposition Democratic Party (DP) this week to impeach several top prosecutors and reject the South Korean government's budget proposal.
"Our National Assembly has become a den of criminals. It has paralyzed the administrative and legal systems by passing laws (pushed by the opposition) and is trying to overthrow our democratic system," Mr. Yoon said.
"Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea that is falling into the abyss of national destruction. For this purpose, I will definitely destroy the treasonous forces that are the main culprits of the country's destruction and carrying out their heinous acts," Yoon added, making accusations about North Korea's involvement in the unrest in South Korea, without giving specific details.
"Our parliament, which is supposed to be the bedrock of democracy, has become a monster that subverts that democracy," he declared.
Police try to block people trying to enter the National Assembly Building in Seoul, South Korea, on December 3. Photo: Jung Yeon-je/AFP
Recent events
South Korean ministers on Monday protested against the Democratic Party’s move last week to cut more than 4 trillion won from the government’s budget proposal, saying the move undermined essential government operations.
South Korea's opposition parties held a rally on Saturday calling on Mr. Yoon to accept a special prosecutor's investigation into allegations of fraud against the First Lady, the latest demonstration by party and civic groups in recent weeks against Mr. Yoon.
“This is a huge setback… This is the collapse of democracy,” said Lee Jun-han, a political science professor at Incheon National University.
Mr Yoon's predecessor, Moon Jae-in, said the country's democracy was in crisis. "I hope the National Assembly will act quickly to protect our democracy from collapse," he wrote in an X post. "I call on the people to join hands to protect and save democracy and help the National Assembly function normally."
Huy Hoang (according to Yonhap, Reuters, CNN)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/quan-doi-tien-vao-toa-nha-quoc-hoi-han-quoc-tinh-hinh-rat-cang-thang-post324033.html
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