South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared “emergency martial law” in an unannounced television address late on Tuesday night, accusing the opposition of sympathising with North Korea and paralysing the government with anti-state activities.

Martial law means the replacement of civilian government and accompanying civil laws with military rule and rules (laws) usually to deal with perceived unrest or external aggression.

“Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is falling into the depths of national ruin… I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalise the country,” he said, while requesting the public to tolerate “some inconveniences”, Indian Express quotes the Yoon as saying.

With the declaration, all political activities and parliamentary activities in South Korea have been suspended with immediate effect.

The last martial law in South Korea was 44 years ago in 1980. The present martial law declaration has been spurred by recent threats from neighbours North Korea and perceived subtle support it gets from certain elements within South Korea.

Martial law is the replacement of civilian government by military rule, and the suspension of civilian legal processes for military ones. Standard civil liberties may be suspended for as long as martial law continues, reports Indian Express.

Article 77 of the Republic of Korea’s constitution contains provisions pertaining to the declaration of martial law in the country. It says: “When it is required to cope with a military necessity or to maintain the public safety and order by mobilization of the military forces in time of war, armed conflict or similar national emergency, the President may proclaim martial law as prescribed by law.”

“Under extraordinary martial law, special measures may be taken with respect to the necessity for warrants, freedom of speech, the press, assembly and association, or the powers of the Executive and the Judiciary under the conditions as prescribed by law,” Article 77 further says.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency cited the military as saying activities by parliament and political parties would be banned, and that media and publishers would be under the control of the martial law command. The news agency also reported that MPs are not being allowed to access the premises of the National Assembly in Seoul.

In his announcement, Yoon did not mention specific measures that will be in force during martial law.

Since the establishment of the Republic of Korea, martial law has been declared 16 times. It was last declared in 1980.

Since the latest National Assembly elections held earlier this year delivered a landslide verdict for the opposition, Yoon has effectively been a lame duck president. He has not been able to pass the laws he wants, and has instead been reduced to vetoing bills passed by the opposition. This is what he was referring to when he spoke about the opposition having “paralysed state affairs”.

Moreover, since his election in 2022, he has seen a steady decline in approval ratings in part due to the number of scandals involving him and his wife, who has been accused of “influence peddling”, according to the BBC. Allegations against Yoon’s wife include stock manipulation and accepting a luxury Dior handbag. The opposition has been trying to launch a special investigation against her.

In recent weeks, Yoon’s conservative People Power Party had been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition Democratic Party over next year’s budget bill. Simultaneously, the opposition has also moved to impeach three top prosecutors in what Yoon has described as a vendetta against their criminal investigation on Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost the presidential election in 2022 but is favourite to win the next time around in 2027.

It is in face of these crises that Yoon has chosen what analysts are calling “the nuclear option”.

What has the response been to Yoon’s declaration?

The declaration of martial law has come completely out of the blue. So far, according to the BBC, “the streets look normal”. The public’s reaction is characterised more by “bewilderment” than anything else, the BBC reported.

The move, however, has invited unanimous criticism from South Korea’s political establishment, including Yoon’s own party.

“Tanks, armored personnel carriers, and soldiers with guns and knives will rule the country,” leader of opposition Lee Jae-myung said in a livestream online. “The economy of the Republic of Korea will collapse irretrievably. My fellow citizens, please come to the National Assembly,” he said.

The People’s Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon has called the declaration of martial law a “wrong” move, and has vowed to block it. Notably, according to South Korean law, the government must lift martial law if the majority of the National Assembly demands votes for its repeal.

However, it is unclear how this vote will take place, given reports that lawmakers are not being allowed access into the Parliament.

With inputs from Associated Press