Large crowds gathered outside the National Assembly building in Seoul after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared “emergency martial law”, sparking terrifying scenes
This is the shocking moment a South Korean security service personnel points a weapon at a protester outside the National Assembly in Seoul after “emergency martial law” was declared.
Dozens of protesters and large crowds took to the streets after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol accused the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathising with North Korea and paralysing the government with anti-state activities.
One woman could be seen gathering outside the National Assembly when she clashed with a South Koren security service personnel who pointed a weapon at her face. She then tries to palm the weapon away as the security turns away from her.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon Suk Yeol in the 2022 presidential election, called Yoon’s announcement “illegal and unconstitutional”. The move drew immediate opposition from politicians, including the leader of his own conservative party, Han Dong-hoon, who called the decision “wrong” and vowed to “stop it with the people”.
Yoon made the announcement in a televised briefing, vowing to “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order”.
“Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the depths of national ruin,” Yoon said during a televised speech, invoking South Korea’s formal name.
“I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalise the country,” he said, while asking the people to believe in him and tolerate “some inconveniences”.
Yoon — whose approval rating has dipped in recent months — has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022.
Yoon’s conservative People Power Party had been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition Democratic Party over next year’s budget bill. The opposition has also been attempting to pass motions to impeach three top prosecutors, including the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, in what the conservatives have called a vendetta against their criminal investigations on Lee, who has been seen as the favorite for the next presidential election in 2027 in opinion polls.
Yoon has also been dismissing calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals. The Democratic Party reportedly called an emergency meeting of its lawmakers following Yoon’s announcement.
