ReutersUnder political pressure, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law in the democratic country for the first time in more than 50 years – causing protests near the country’s parliament building.
The late-night statement – made on national television at 23:00 local time (14:00 GMT) made people immediately think it was related to North Korea – its nuclear-armed neighbor of the South – or an issue important to national security such as a terrorist event or coup.
However, it quickly became clear that Yoon had taken this drastic action in response to a series of political events.
Having lost control of parliament earlier this year, his government has struggled with a series of bills and opposition moves seeking to weaken his rule.
Political observers say he has now been pushed to the point of imposing martial law – temporary rule by the military – as an undemocratic tactic to counter political attacks.
ReutersWhat was the immediate reaction?
Opposition leaders on Tuesday immediately condemned the move as unconstitutional.
South Korea’s main opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung called on his Democratic Party lawmakers to gather in parliament on Tuesday night to vote to reject the declaration.
But in Seoul, police buses were dispatched to block or barricade entrances to the parliament building, local television stations said.
However, protesters still flocked to the National Assembly building, protesting and chanting “No martial law! No martial law”. They clashed with the police guarding the building.
What does martial law mean?
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 a longtime president was assassinated in a coup.
It has never been used since South Korea became a parliamentary democracy in 1987.
But on Tuesday, Yoon pulled the trigger, saying in a national address that he was invoking military rule in the face of a threat from “anti-state forces”.
Under martial law, the military would have additional powers and could suspend normal legal procedures and protections.
What is the political context?
Yoon has been a weak president since South Korea’s general election in April when the opposition won in a landslide.
His government has since been unable to pass the bills it wanted and instead had to veto bills the opposition passed.
He has also seen his popularity with voters decline; has been mired in several corruption and political influence scandals – 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 or independent investigation that opposition parties have called for.
Then this week, the opposition proposed budget cuts to his government – and a budget bill that cannot be vetoed.
At the same time, the opposition also moved to impeach cabinet members, including the head of the government audit agency – for not investigating the First Lady.
What now?
Yoon’s statement caught many people off guard – the situation is currently developing very quickly.
The political opposition has called on the public to rally outside parliament – peaceful mass protests are common in South Korea and they have proven effective in changing governments in the past .
The main opposition Democratic Party on Tuesday night immediately called on all its lawmakers to assemble in Parliament.
According to South Korean law, the government must lift martial law if a majority in the national assembly – the National Assembly – calls for a vote. The same law also prohibits martial law arrests of lawmakers.
But police buses were moved to a position in front of the building, which served as a barricade to prevent lawmakers from accessing the meeting.
There is also discord within the political party of Yoon, leader of the People’s Power Party.
Party leader Han Dong-hoon called the declaration of martial law a “wrong” move, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported. He has vowed to stop the law.
