South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Declares Martial Law: 10 Points

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made a shocking announcement on Tuesday night, declaring martial law in a televised address. The unexpected decision, the first since 1980, aims to combat what Yoon described as “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces.” Yoon stated that the move was necessary to preserve South Korea’s constitutional order amid political tensions with the opposition Democratic Party. The declaration has sent shockwaves through the nation, with fears of democratic backsliding in a country that transitioned to democracy in the 1980s. The Korean won fell sharply against the U.S. dollar, raising economic concerns.

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Here are top 10 points:

1. President Yoon declared martial law to counter alleged pro-North Korean forces, accusing them of undermining the nation’s constitutional and free democratic order through domestic political actions.

2. The declaration places media, publishing, and parliamentary activities under martial law control, raising concerns about press freedom and democratic functioning in South Korea.

3. Yoon accused the opposition Democratic Party of paralysing governance by pushing impeachments and slashing over 4 trillion won from the government’s proposed budget.

4. The opposition leader Lee Jae-myung criticised the declaration, calling it a catastrophic step that would irreversibly collapse the nation’s economy and democratic values.

5. Yoon blamed opposition lawmakers for creating a “legislative dictatorship,” alleging they turned the National Assembly into a haven for criminals and disrupted national governance.

6. Tanks, soldiers, and armoured vehicles have reportedly surrounded key areas, including the National Assembly building, heightening public unease and speculation about military enforcement.

7. Yoon claimed the opposition’s actions, including budget cuts for essential services like public safety, have turned South Korea into a chaotic and unsafe state.

8. Economic fallout began immediately, with the Korean won plummeting and the central bank preparing measures to stabilise the financial markets amid rising uncertainty.

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9. The U.S., with 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea, has yet to respond to the declaration, raising questions about its stance on the unfolding crisis.

10. Critics fear Yoon’s invocation of martial law signals a dangerous shift towards authoritarianism, potentially undoing decades of progress in South Korea’s democratic governance.