South Korean president declares emergency martial law

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared an emergency martial law, accusing the opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathizing with North Korea, and obstructing government functions with anti-state activities.

In a televised address, Yoon vowed to "eradicate pro-North Korean forces" and uphold the constitutional democratic order. However, the full implications of this move for the country’s governance and democratic processes remain unclear, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Since taking office in 2022, Yoon, whose approval ratings have declined in recent months, has faced significant challenges in advancing his agenda against an opposition-led parliament. Tensions have escalated with the liberal Democratic Party over the budget for next year, and Yoon has dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and senior officials, leading to sharp criticisms from political adversaries.

In response to Yoon's declaration, the Democratic Party convened an emergency meeting of its lawmakers.

By Vafa Guliyeva