The Parliament of South Korea voted on Tuesday to invalidate the martial law decree issued by the country’s president earlier in the day. The opposition accuses President Yoon Suk Yeol of trying to stage a coup by signing a measure that suspends political activities, prohibits protests, and censors the media.
The decree comes at a time when the ruling People Power Party, led by Yoon, and the main opposition Democratic Party are discussing the budget for the next year. Last week, opposition lawmakers approved a reduced budget plan, which was contrary to the government’s stance.
In addition, the opposition has filed 22 impeachment motions against Yoon’s government since mid-2022, including against a state auditor and the chief prosecutor. Following the defeat in the Legislature, the president accused the National Congress of becoming a haven for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship seeking to paralyze the judicial and administrative systems and overthrow our liberal democratic order.
Yoon still claimed that martial law would serve to safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by the communist forces of North Korea and eliminate anti-state elements. “I will restore normalcy in the country, freeing it from anti-state forces as quickly as possible,” he said. After the decree, the Parliament swiftly convened a plenary session to demand Yoon to suspend the martial law, with the resolution approved by all 190 members present.