A dramatic power struggle unfolds in South Korea as military helicopters land on parliament grounds and citizens clash with riot police in the streets of Seoul.
According to Daily Mail, President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the nation and international community by declaring emergency martial law, claiming opposition lawmakers were acting as North Korean sympathizers and subverting parliament.
The declaration triggered immediate chaos as protesters marched on the National Assembly building while military forces moved to secure the premises. Parliamentary aides attempted to repel soldiers who entered the building by spraying fire extinguishers. The military deployment included helicopters landing within the National Assembly grounds as heavily armed troops in tactical gear patrolled the halls of South Korea's legislature.
Military Control Faces Constitutional Challenge From Lawmakers
The South Korean military announced that martial law would remain in effect until President Yoon himself lifted it, despite parliament voting 190-0 to invalidate the declaration. Under the nation's constitution, the president must comply when the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law through a majority vote. The standoff has created a constitutional crisis as the military appears to be defying parliamentary authority.
Defense officials stated they would maintain martial law command regardless of the parliamentary vote. The martial law commander, Park An-su, issued sweeping restrictions on political activities, including banning assemblies and demonstrations and controlling media outlets. Additionally, thousands of striking doctors were ordered to return to work within 48 hours.
The extraordinary measures come as President Yoon struggles with declining popularity and an opposition-controlled parliament that has frustrated his agenda since taking office in 2022. His approval ratings have hovered around 20% amid various scandals involving his inner circle and wife.
Constitutional Crisis Deepens As Political Leaders Push Back
President Yoon justified the dramatic action in a late-night address, stating:
With no regard for the livelihoods of the people, the opposition party has paralysed governance solely for the sake of impeachments, special investigations, and shielding their leader from justice... Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the depths of national ruin.
The declaration faced immediate opposition even within Yoon's own conservative People Power Party. Party leader Han Dong-hoon called the decision "wrong" and promised to stand with citizens against it. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, denounced the move as illegal and unconstitutional.
Under martial law provisions, the commander can order arrests without warrants and maintain control over administrative and judicial matters. The sweeping powers include authority over speech, press, and assembly, effectively suspending normal democratic processes in the nation of 50 million people.
Democracy Hangs in the Balance
South Korea faces its gravest test of democratic institutions since its transition from military rule in the 1980s. President Yoon declared martial law, citing threats from North Korean communist forces and alleged sympathizers within parliament, despite no active conflict or attacks on South Korean soil.
The constitutional standoff between the president, parliament, and military leaves South Korea's democratic future uncertain. While the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to lift martial law, the military's refusal to stand down without presidential approval has created a dangerous impasse.
This crisis emerged against the backdrop of Yoon's deeply unpopular presidency and his party's landslide defeat in April's parliamentary elections, where opposition parties secured nearly two-thirds of assembly seats. The president's unprecedented response to political opposition has now thrust South Korea into a period of profound uncertainty over its democratic foundations.
