South Korea's Yoon Declares Martial Law in Emergency Address

[Zorro]

Source: Bloomberg

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday in an emergency national address televised live.

Yoon said the decision was made to protect freedom and constitutional order, as he accused the opposition of trying to paralyze the administration with impeachment moves.

“Through the declaration of martial law, I will rebuild and protect a free South Korea,” Yoon said, adding the decision was “inevitable.”

South Korea’s defense minister ordered a meeting with the military’s top commander, according to Yonhap News.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-03/south-korea-s-yoon-declares-martial-law-in-emergency-address?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTczMzIzNDA4OSwiZXhwIjoxNzMzODM4ODg5LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTTlg3N05EV1gyUFMwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJDNjgyQTUwQzJCRDM0MTFCQTgwQjEwQjZEQjczQzM1MSJ9.2E9uaZeKpevtZ0xSbltn5ui2xAFbxpg98gzXMrfMXsg

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No further details yet.

[Mike 03]

1. Breaking story right now on BBC World Service NewsHour

They interrupted their own programming, began to cover it, then cut away. But it sounds like they are trying to gather more information.

[Lovie777]

2. Oh shit..................

[Easterncedar]

3. The playbook is open right in front of us

[Mike 03]

4. BBC expert: "I'm just as mystified as anyone!"

Unlike our experts, who when put on the spot by breaking news, will talk nonsense for ten minutes before they'd acknowledge they are confused, the BBC reporter in Seoul admits not only does he have no clue what is happening, the people he's talked to on the street hadn't heard about it.

"I'm afraid I don't have a great deal of clarification at the moment."

He sounds quite alarmed, especially for the BBC.

[PunkinPi]

5. Here's the live reporting thread from BBC...

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn38321180et

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. from which: South Korea's parliament votes to block martial law

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik submitted a resolution requesting the lifting of martial law around 01:00 local time.

The resolution was passed with 190 of 300 members of the ruling and opposition parties in attendance, with all present in favour.
...
Representative Lee Seong-yoon, of South Korea's main opposition party, spoke to the BBC a short while ago from the main Assembly Hall, as he was waiting for the vote to start.

He said he had to climb over a 1.5m (4.9ft) tall fence to get into the assembly because police blocked him, even with identification that he was a lawmaker.
...
The National Assembly speaker has just said that South Korean troops are leaving the parliament building, the Yonhap news agency reports.

Soldiers had entered the building shortly after the president's declaration of martial law.

[Lulu KC]

6. Yikes!

I wish I could think of something else to add, but so far, "Yikes!" is my thoughtful response.

I just checked front pages online of WaPo and NYT and this news is second or third tier down while scrolling. It seems bigger than that to me.

[HUAJIAO]

7. I am asking friends in Seoul.

[Eugene]

9. South Korean MPs defy president's declaration of martial law as crowds gather

South Korean MPs defy president’s declaration of martial law as crowds gather (The Guardian)

South Korea’s National Assembly has voted to block an attempt by the president, Yoon Suk Yeol, to declare martial law, leaving the future of his emergency measure unclear as protesters and armed forces gathered in Seoul.

There was jubilation outside the National Assembly building late on Tuesday night where hundreds of people had gathered to witness armed forces enter the building as lawmakers sat in the legislature to hold an emergency session to block Yoon’s sudden declaration.

Yoon had declared martial law in an unannounced late-night televised address, claiming he would eradicate “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces”.

The move sent shockwaves through the country, which had a series of authoritarian leaders early in its history but has been considered democratic since the 1980s. The Korean won was down sharply against the US dollar. A central bank official said it was preparing measures to stabilise the market if needed.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/03/south-korean-president-declares-emergency-martial-law

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Constitution says National Assembly can lift martial law, as they have ordered

South Korea’s constitution states the president has the authority to declare martial law when it is deemed necessary to cope with a military threat or to maintain public safety and order by mobilizing military forces, according to Reuters.

The president’s martial law declaration must be reviewed by the cabinet, and once martial law is declared, the National Assembly must be notified of the decision.

If the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law by a majority vote of its members, the president must comply.

The martial law commander has authority over all administrative and judicial matters and is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the defence minister among active-duty generals. The commander has the power to take actions related to arrests of persons, searches and seizures, speech and the press, and assembly.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/dec/03/south-korea-declares-emergency-martial-law-yoon-suk-yeol-north-korea-latest-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-674f37058f08282fa897ec37#block-674f37058f08282fa897ec37

[Polybius]

11. Interesting

I don't think ours can in the even a President declares it.