South Korean president declares emergency martial law, accusing opposition of anti-state activities

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. File Pic/AFP

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared an "emergency martial law," Tuesday accusing the country's opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathising with North Korea and paralysing the government with anti-state activities.

Yoon made the announcement in a televised briefing, vowing to 'eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.'

It wasn't immediately clear how Yoon's step would affect the country's governance and democracy. The move drew immediate opposition from politicians, including the leader of his own conservative party, Han Dong-hoon, who called the decision wrong and vowed to stop it with the people.

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

"Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the depths of national ruin," Yoon said during a televised speech, invoking South Korea's formal name.

"I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalise the country," he said, while asking the people to believe in him and tolerate "some inconveniences."

Yoon, whose approval rating has dipped in recent months " has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022.

Yoon's conservative People Power Party had been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition Democratic Party over next year's budget bill.

The opposition has also been attempting to pass motions to impeach three top prosecutors, including the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, in what the conservatives have called a vendetta against their criminal investigations on Lee, who has been seen as the favourite for the next presidential election in 2027 in opinion polls.

Yoon has also been dismissing calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals.

The Democratic Party reportedly called an emergency meeting of its lawmakers following Yoon's announcement.

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