[비즈한국] As President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law on the night of the 3rd, international media outlets quickly reported on the developing situation.
CNN in the United States broadcast the news of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of emergency martial law as a breaking story. CNN reported, “South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in an unannounced late-night televised address, accusing the country’s main opposition party of sympathizing with North Korea and engaging in anti-state activities.” The report added, “He did not disclose what specific measures would be taken, but noted the opposition Democratic Party’s attempts to impeach top prosecutors and reject the government's budget proposal.”
The Associated Press (AP) also reported that President Yoon declared emergency martial law, accusing the opposition-controlled National Assembly of sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the government through anti-state activities.
The AP observed, “Since taking office in 2022, President Yoon has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament,” adding, “It is not immediately clear how the emergency martial law measures will affect South Korea’s governance and democracy.”
The British Financial Times (FT) placed a story from Seoul at the very top of its homepage, stating, “President Yoon’s move will complicate relations with the United States, South Korea’s most important ally and outgoing President Joe Biden,” and noted, “Following the declaration of martial law, the value of the South Korean won fell to its lowest level since November 2022.”
The New York Times reported, “This is the first time a South Korean president has declared martial law since military dictatorship ended in South Korea in the late 1980s,” adding, “President Yoon, who was elected in 2022, has been in a near-constant political standoff with an opposition-controlled legislature.” However, it observed that “it is unclear what exactly the martial law entails and what will change immediately in South Korea.”
The Washington Post reported, “Since taking office in 2022, President Yoon has struggled with low approval ratings and has faced political backlash involving his spouse and senior members of his ruling party,” adding, “It remains unclear how this decision will impact South Korean governance.”