reuters.com
www.reuters.com

SEOUL, Dec 3 (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday declared martial law in an unannounced late night address broadcast live on YTN television.

Yoon said he had no choice but to resort to such a measure in order to safeguard free and constitutional order, saying opposition parties have taken hostage of the parliamentary process to throw the country into a crisis.

"I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order," Yoon said.

He did not say in the address what specific measures will be taken.

Yoon cited a motion by the country's opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, this week to impeach some of the country's top prosecutors and its rejection of a government budget proposal.

edit: BBC live feed. This just broke an hour ago so they're still gathering information: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn38321180et

edit: Maybe it's over? Per the BBC-

South Koreans celebrate as Yoon withdraws martial law troops - published at 12:43

Moments after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced he would lift the martial law people outside the National Assembly celebrated, the AFP news agency reports.

It adds that Yoon says martial law troops have withdrawn after the National Assembly voted to block his imposition of military rule.

    • Pili [any, any]
      ·
      1 day ago

      "Only democracy in the extreme-east" kind of moment

    • Ericthescruffy [he/him]
      ·
      1 day ago

      So how big a deal is this? Like obviously its not a great look but was this the expected outcome/direction? From my spot thousands of miles away this reads like "You have made your decision...now enforce it."

      • thethirdgracchi [he/him, they/them]
        ·
        1 day ago

        The power lies, as always, behind the barrel of a gun. If the military wants marital law it's martial law they get. So long as they back the President there's nothing the National Assembly can do.

        • Ericthescruffy [he/him]
          ·
          1 day ago

          Oh for sure, that isn't In question. We're all materialist here. My question (as I'm not super familiar with the state of South Korean politics) is: is the military ignoring a 190/0 vote and siding with the president an expected outcome here? Like is this a watershed moment or is it business as usual?

          • thethirdgracchi [he/him, they/them]
            ·
            1 day ago

            Ooohhhh I see, yeah in that regard I have no idea. I think it's business as usual over a longer timespan given how often the military sided with reactionary dictators.