South Korean President Cancels Martial Law, Won Falls Sharply After Initial Announcement
Yoon did not specify what actions he intends to take after declaring martial law.
SEOUL - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has cancelled martial law after initially having declared it during a televised address to the nation, which he said is necessary to protect the country from "North Korea's communist forces [pro-North-Korean forces", and to "eliminate anti-state elements".
“To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements… I hereby declare emergency martial law,” he said.
“The National Assembly has also completely cut budgets essential for national operations, drug crime prevention, and public safety, undermining the core functions of the state. This has left our citizens in a state of chaos, with the nation becoming a haven for drugs and public safety collapsing.”
He also said, "With no regard for the livelihoods of the people, the opposition party has paralyzed governance solely for the sake of impeachments, special investigations, and shielding their leader from justice."
"I will restore the country to normalcy by getting rid of anti-state forces as soon as possible."
The head of the ruling conservative People Power Party, Han Dong-hoon, said “the declaration of martial law is wrong”, and said he would “oppose” it… “alongside the people”.
Yoon did not specify what actions he intends to take after declaring martial law. The South Korean won has fallen sharply since the announcement against the U.S. dollar.
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