South Korea under martial law: What led to this point ?
Members of the opposition and President Yoon Suk Yeol’s own party have criticized the decision, citing his low public approval ratings.
South Korea has plunged into political upheaval following President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of emergency martial law late Tuesday. Yoon claimed the move was necessary to counter "threats" from North Korea and accused the opposition of being "antistate forces."
In response, the military introduced sweeping measures, including a ban on political activities and placing all media under the control of the Martial Law Command. However, just hours later, the parliament, under pressure from protesters and heavy police presence, rejected the decree.
Timeline of Events Leading to Martial Law
- April 11: Opposition parties secure a decisive victory in National Assembly elections, winning over 60% of the 300 seats.
- May 9: President Yoon apologizes on behalf of First Lady Kim Keon-hee amid allegations she accepted an unlawful luxury handbag in 2022.
- August 27: Yoon’s administration unveils a 677.4 trillion won ($483 billion) budget to address issues like rising health insurance and pension costs.
- October 25: South Korea expresses "grave concern" over potential Russia-North Korea defense agreements, amid allegations North Korea supplied troops to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
- November 25: Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is acquitted of charges related to witness tampering, offering a brief reprieve from broader legal challenges.
- November 26: President Yoon vetoes a bill for a special investigation into corruption allegations involving the First Lady, his third rejection of opposition-led inquiries.
- November 29: The opposition slashes 4.1 trillion won ($2.8 billion) from Yoon’s budget proposal, targeting reserve funds and cutting budgets for Yoon’s office, the prosecution, police, and state audit agency. The governing People Power Party condemns this as undermining critical state functions.
- December 2: The Democratic Party moves to impeach three top prosecutors. Conservatives denounce this as retaliation for their investigations into opposition leader Lee, a top contender for the 2027 presidential race.
- December 2: Polls show Yoon's approval rating dropping to 25%, according to Realmeter.
- December 3: President Yoon declares emergency martial law, stating his intent to "rebuild a free and democratic country" through these extraordinary measures.
Soldiers advance to the main building of the National Assembly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul, South Korea, December 3, 2024
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