South Korea's president declares martial law, warns of 'communist forces'

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a “state of emergency” on Tuesday, accusing the country's opposition of controlling parliament, sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the government with anti-state activities.

“In order to protect a liberal South Korea from threats coming from North Korea's communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements … I hereby declare martial law,” Yoon said in a live televised address to the nation.

“Without regard for the livelihood of the people, the opposition party is paralyzing governance solely in the name of impeachment, special investigations and protection of its leader from justice,” he added.

South Korea's National Assembly was sealed off Tuesday following Yoon's declaration, the country's Yonhap news agency reported. Helicopters were seen landing on the roof of the building in Seoul in live television footage broadcast by broadcasters.

Yoon did not say what specific measures would be taken, BBC reportedbut martial law commander Park Ahn-soo said in a statement that all political activities were banned and all media would be subject to government monitoring.

“All political activities, including those of the National Assembly, local councils, political parties and political associations, as well as meetings and demonstrations, are strictly prohibited,” he said, adding: “All media and publications will be subject to scrutiny. of the martial law command'.

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, called Yoon's announcement “illegal and unconstitutional.”

The surprise move comes as Yun's People's Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party continue to spar over next year's budget bill. Opposition MPs last week approved a significantly reduced budget plan through a parliamentary committee.

“Our National Assembly has become a haven for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship that seeks to paralyze the judicial and administrative systems and overturn our liberal democratic order,” Yun said.

Yun – whose approval rating has fallen in recent months – has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022.

Yun's conservative People Power Party has been deadlocked with the liberal opposition Democratic Party over next year's budget bill. He also rejected calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and senior officials, drawing swift and strong rebukes from his political rivals.

The Democratic Party reportedly called an emergency meeting of its lawmakers following Yun's statement.

Yun accused opposition lawmakers of cutting “all key budgets essential to the nation's core functions, such as combating drug crimes and maintaining public security … turning the country into a drug haven and a state of public safety chaos.”

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Yun went on to label the opposition, which has a majority in the 300-member parliament, as “anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime” and called his decision “inevitable”.

“I will bring the country back to normal by getting rid of the anti-state forces as soon as possible.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.