South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared martial law vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against the opposition that controls the country’s parliament and which he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law Tuesday vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls the country’s parliament and which he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea.
The surprising move harkens back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and was immediately denounced by the opposition and by the leader of Yoon’s own conservative party.
The military also said that the country’s striking doctors should return to work within 48 hours, Yonhap said. Thousands of doctors have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical schools.
It wasn’t immediately clear how long Yoon’s martial law declaration could stand.
