South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared "emergency martial law," accusing the opposition of sympathizing with North Korea. He explained that the decision was necessary "to safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea's communist forces."

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared "emergency martial law" on Tuesday, accusing the country's opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathizing with North Korea, and sabotaging the government with actions considered detrimental to the state.

Yoon described the decision as vital to defending South Korea's constitutional order. In a televised address, he stated, "To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea's communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements... I hereby declare emergency martial law."

The opposition Democratic Party holds a majority in parliament, enabling it to block Yoon's plans for the upcoming national budget. Last week, opposition lawmakers approved a reduced budget plan in a parliamentary committee.

Yoon criticized the National Assembly, calling it "a haven for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship that seeks to paralyze the judicial and administrative systems and overturn our liberal democratic order." He accused opposition lawmakers of slashing "all key budgets essential to the nation's core functions, such as combating drug crimes and maintaining public security... turning the country into a drug haven and a state of public safety chaos."

The president labeled the opposition, which commands a parliamentary majority, as "anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime" and called the declaration of martial law "inevitable."

In addition, Yoon has dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and senior officials, drawing harsh criticism from political opponents.

Yoon, who assumed office in 2022, has seen his approval rating decline in recent months. His decision on Tuesday has shocked the nation, which, after experiencing authoritarian rule in its early years, has been a democracy since the 1980s. The announcement caused the South Korean won to drop significantly against the US dollar.