[비즈한국] President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law on the night of the 3rd and appointed General Park An-su, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army, as the Martial Law Commander.
President Yoon held an emergency briefing at the Presidential Office in Yongsan around 10:20 PM that night, stating, "To safeguard a free Republic of Korea from the threats of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the shameless pro-North anti-state elements that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order, I hereby declare emergency martial law." He added, "I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the abyss of national collapse."
President Yoon characterized the actions of the Democratic Party of Korea as "anti-state activities," stating, "So far, the National Assembly has proposed 22 impeachment motions since the launch of our administration, and they are currently pursuing the impeachment of 10 people even after the start of the 22nd National Assembly." He added, "This is unprecedented in any country in the world, as well as entirely unprecedented since the founding of our nation," and vowed to "eradicate the shameless pro-North anti-state elements all at once."
President Yoon said, "State affairs are in a state of paralysis, with no regard for the lives of the people, solely focused on impeachments, special counsel investigations, and shielding the opposition leader." He continued, "Our National Assembly has become a den of criminal groups, paralyzing the nation's judicial and administrative systems through legislative dictatorship and attempting to overthrow the liberal democratic system."
President Yoon stated, "The National Assembly, which should be the foundation of liberal democracy, has become a monster that collapses the liberal democratic system," adding, "The Republic of Korea is currently in a fate as precarious as a candle in the wind, to the point where it would not be strange if it collapsed immediately."
President Yoon reiterated, "I declare emergency martial law to safeguard a free Republic of Korea from the threats of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the shameless pro-North anti-state elements who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order," and added, "Through this emergency martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the abyss of national collapse."
President Yoon said, "Such measures are inevitable for the permanence of a free Republic of Korea, and there is no change in the foreign policy stance that the Republic of Korea fulfills its responsibilities and contributions in the international community." He concluded, "As President, I earnestly appeal to the citizens. I will rely solely on you, the people, and devote my convictions to protecting the free Republic of Korea. Please believe in me."
President Yoon's declaration of emergency martial law was kept strictly confidential even within the Presidential Office. It appears that the President prepared the announcement through a select group of close aides. Some senior secretaries reportedly went back to the Yongsan office building after they had already left work to be briefed on the situation, and most secretaries were unaware of the situation.
The military immediately entered a state of alert following the President's declaration. The Ministry of National Defense stated that immediately after the declaration, Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun held a meeting with major commanders nationwide and ordered heightened emergency vigilance and readiness across the entire military.
Martial Law Commander General Park An-su also issued a decree at 11:00 PM that night, prohibiting all political activities and stating that all media and publications would be subject to censorship by the Martial Law Command.
The midnight declaration of emergency martial law drew immediate backlash even from the ruling People Power Party. Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, stated, "The President's declaration of emergency martial law is wrong," adding, "I will protect liberal democracy together with the people. I will certainly stop this emergency martial law." Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said on his YouTube channel, "From this moment on, Yoon Suk Yeol is no longer President," and "The people did not permit President Yoon Suk Yeol's emergency martial law." Addressing the military, Lee said, "The guns and swords you hold all come from the people. The master of this country is the people, and the master you must obey is not President Yoon, but the people themselves."
However, the National Assembly can lift the President's declaration of emergency martial law. Article 77 of the Constitution stipulates, "If the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law with the consent of a majority of the total number of members, the President must comply." As the Democratic Party holds 170 seats alone, it appears the emergency martial law will be lifted immediately.