Why did the President of South Korea suddenly declare martial law?

South Korea’s president shocked the nation Tuesday night when he suddenly declared martial law in the Asian democracy for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Yoon Suk-yeol’s drastic measure – announced in a late-night TV show – addressed “anti-state forces” and the threat from North Korea.

But it quickly became clear that it was driven not by external threats but by his own desperate political troubles.

However, the drastic measure prompted thousands to gather in parliament in protest, while opposition lawmakers flocked there to push for an emergency vote to scrap the measure.

Defeated, Yoon emerged hours later to accept the parliamentary vote and lift martial law.

Observers said Yoon acted recklessly as a beleaguered president.

In a speech Tuesday night, he recounted the opposition’s efforts to weaken his government before saying he was declaring martial law to “crush the wreaking anti-state forces.” .

His decree temporarily put the military in charge – with helmeted troops and police deployed to the parliament building, where helicopters were seen landing on the roof.

Local media also showed masked soldiers carrying guns entering the building while staff tried to stop them with fire extinguishers.

Around 23:00 local time on Tuesday (14:00 GMT), the military issued a decree banning protests and activities of parliament and political groups, and placing the media under control. government control.

But South Korean politicians immediately called Yoon’s statement illegal and unconstitutional. The leader of his party, the conservative People Power Party, also called Yoon’s actions “a wrong step.”

Meanwhile, the leader of the country’s largest opposition party, Lee Jae-myung of the Liberal Democratic Party, called on his lawmakers to gather in parliament to vote to reject the declaration.

He also called on ordinary Koreans to be present at the parliament to protest.

“Tanks, armored personnel carriers and soldiers with guns and knives will rule the country… My countrymen, come to the National Assembly.”

Thousands of people responded to the call, rushing to gather outside the heavily guarded parliament. Protesters chanted: “No martial law!” and “overthrow the dictatorship”.

Local media broadcasts from the site showed several scuffles between protesters and police at the gate. But despite the military presence, tensions did not escalate into violence.

And lawmakers can also get around roadblocks – even climbed the fence to enter the voting booth.

Shortly after 01:00 on Wednesday, the South Korean parliament, with 190 of the 300 members present, voted to reject the measure. President Yoon’s declaration of martial law was ruled invalid.

Martial law is a temporary rule by military authorities in times of emergency, when civilian authorities are considered unable to function.

The last time it was declared in South Korea was in 1979, when the country’s longtime military dictator Park Chung-hee was assassinated in a coup.

It has never been used since the country became a parliamentary democracy in 1987.

But on Tuesday, Yoon pulled the trigger, saying in a national address that he was trying to save South Korea from “anti-state forces”.

Yoon, who has taken a significantly tougher stance on North Korea than his predecessors, has described the political opposition as pro-North Korea – without providing evidence.

Under martial law, the military was given more power and There is often a suspension of civil rights for citizens and legal standards and protections.

Despite the military’s announcement of restrictions on political and media activity – protesters and politicians defied those orders. And there is no sign that the government is taking control of the free media – Yonhap, national television and other media outlets continue to report normally.

Yoon was elected to office in May 2022 as a hardline conservative, but has been a lame duck president since April when the opposition won a landslide victory in the general election. country’s elections.

His government has since been unable to pass the bills it wanted and has instead moved to veto bills already passed by the House of Representatives. opposition to freedom.

He also noticed a decline in approval ratings – hovering around a low of 17%. – as he has been embroiled in several corruption scandals this year – including one involving The First Lady received a Dior bagand another issue surrounding stock manipulation.

Just last month he was forced to issue an apology on national televisionsaid he was establishing an office to oversee the First Lady’s duties. But he rejected a wider investigation that opposition parties have called for.

Then this week, the opposition proposed cuts to a major government budget bill – which cannot be vetoed.

At the same time, the opposition also moved to impeach cabinet members and several top prosecutors – including the head of the government’s audit agency – for failing to investigate the First Lady. .

Yoon’s statement caught many people off guard and for a period of six hours, Koreans were confused as to what martial law meant.

But the opposition was able to assemble quickly in parliament and get enough votes to reject the declaration.

And despite a heavy military and police presence in the capital, a military takeover appears unlikely to materialize.

According to South Korean law, the government must lift martial law if a majority in parliament calls for a vote.

The same law also prohibits martial law arrests of lawmakers.

It is unclear what will happen and what the consequences will be for Yoon. Some protesters gathered outside the conference on Tuesday night also shouted: “Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol.”

But his reckless actions certainly stunned the country – which sees itself as a modern, prosperous democracy that has come a long way since its dictatorial days.

This is being seen as the biggest challenge to that democratic society in decades.

Experts say it could damage South Korea’s reputation as a democracy even more than the January 6 riots in the US.

One expert, Leif-Eric Easley at Ewha University in Seoul, said: “Yoon’s declaration of martial law appears to be both a legal violation and a political miscalculation, posing unnecessary risks to Korea’s economy and security”.

“He seems like a beleaguered politician, making a desperate move against mounting scandals, institutional obstruction and calls for impeachment, all of which This is likely to increase.”

As the speaker of parliament said on Wednesday: “We will protect democracy together with the people.”