South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, stressing that the decision was essential to maintain the nation’s constitutional integrity.
Speaking on YTN, Yoon explained that opposition parties were holding the legislative process hostage, which he claimed was pushing the country into a state of turmoil.
“I am forced to declare martial law to protect the Republic of Korea from the looming threat posed by North Korean communist forces, to dismantle the harmful pro-North Korean factions undermining our freedoms, and to preserve our constitutional order,” Yoon stated during his address.
Although he did not elaborate on the specific actions to be implemented, Yoon referenced a recent move by the opposition Democratic Party, which holds a majority in parliament.
The party had proposed the impeachment of several top prosecutors and rejected the government’s budget plan earlier this week.
