SEOUL — South Korea’s deeply unpopular president, Yoon Suk Yeol, stunned the nation Tuesday by declaring “emergency martial law” — a risky power play that launched an extraordinary six hours of turmoil and evoked the military dictatorships that many South Koreans believed had been consigned to the history books.
Yoon’s decree, made in a televised announcement late Tuesday night as he accused the opposition of “antistate” activities, prompted thousands of protesters demanding a return to democratic government to gather outside the National Assembly, where lawmakers convened urgently to overturn the order. With police officers forming a barricade around the parliamentary complex, some opposition lawmakers even climbed through windows to get into the voting chamber.
Yoon’s decree, made in a televised announcement late Tuesday night as he accused the opposition of “antistate” activities, prompted thousands of protesters demanding a return to democratic government to gather outside the National Assembly, where lawmakers convened urgently to overturn the order. With police officers forming a barricade around the parliamentary complex, some opposition lawmakers even climbed through windows to get into the voting chamber.
