UPDATE 2 - South Korean president declares martial law to 'eliminate anti-state elements'

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK AND LEDE

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared on Tuesday martial law, a move immediately rejected as "unconstitutional" by the opposition, which subsequently voted to reverse it.

Yoon, in an unannounced late-night television address, said the step was necessary to “protect the country from North Korea's communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements.”

Footage aired on local broadcasters showed army troops positioned inside the parliament in the capital Seoul, seeking to enter the main building, where opposition lawmakers backed by several treasury members called a session in an attempt to nullify the martial law.

Following the announcement, South Korea’s military chief, Gen. Park An-su, assumed the charge of martial law commander. In his first order, he proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” have been banned.

The military also asked the country’s striking doctors to return to work within 48 hours. Thousands of doctors have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical schools.

Lawmakers, however, reached the National Assembly and voted to demand the president lift emergency martial law, according to Yonhap news agency.

Under the Constitution, martial law must be lifted when a parliamentary majority demands it.

Of the 300 members of parliament, 190 were present and all voted in favor of the motion.

Yoon, who has been struggling to push his government agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022, said he had no choice but to declare martial law.

The decision came after the opposition Democratic Party (DP) pushed through a reduced budget bill in the parliamentary budget committee and filed impeachment motions against a state auditor and the chief prosecutor.

The defense minister has convened a meeting of key commanders and urged increased vigilance. He also directed that the military remain on emergency duty, according to the statement.

- Opposition sees move ‘unconstitutional’

The main opposition DP rejected the imposition of martial law as “unconstitutional."

The party had summoned its lawmakers in the National Assembly for an emergency meeting to discuss and begin the procedures for lifting martial law.

DP leader Lee Jae-myung condemned the move as "unconstitutional," saying it "goes against the people."

"President Yoon declared emergency martial law for no reason," Lee was quoted as saying.

"Tanks, armored vehicles, and soldiers with guns and swords will soon control the country," he warned.

Han Dong-hoon, the leader of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party, called the decision to impose martial law “wrong” and vowed to “stop it with the people.

This is the first declaration of martial law in South Korea since 1979.​​​​​​​