Soldiers advance to the main building of the National Assembly after South Korean President Yeon Suk-yeol declared martial law in Seoul

Soldiers advance to the main building of the National Assembly (Parliament) after the South Korean President declared martial law - expressive

A White House spokesman said that President Joe Biden's administration is in contact with the South Korean government and is closely monitoring the situation, after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yul declared martial law on Tuesday.

Yul pledged to eliminate anti-state forces, in the midst of his confrontation with the opposition that controls the National Assembly (Parliament), and which the president accuses of sympathizing with North Korea.

The Associated Press said that this “sudden” step brought to mind an authoritarian era that the country had not witnessed since the 1980s.

Following the announcement, which was contained in a live televised speech by the president, the armed forces announced the suspension of Parliament and all political gatherings that might cause “social confusion,” according to what was reported by the local Yonhap agency.

The armed forces announced that striking doctors in the country must return to work within 48 hours, and made it clear that anyone who violates this decision may be arrested without an arrest warrant.

There have been thousands of doctors who have been on strike for months, in protest against the government’s plans to expand the number of students in medical colleges.

Parliament, which has the legal right to stop the implementation of the declaration of martial law, took the step quickly and voted in favor.

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung denounced the imposition of martial law (emergency), considering President Yeol's move "illegal."

He said, “The decision is invalid,” adding in a speech broadcast live on the Internet, “Please, go now to the National Assembly. I am going there too,” according to Agence France-Presse.

The South Korean Yonhap news agency reported that the activities of parliament and political parties will be “banned,” and the martial law leadership (emergency laws) will control the media and publishing houses.

Parliament Speaker Woo Won-shik, in an emergency statement posted on his YouTube channel, also called on all representatives to immediately gather at the parliament building, and urged military forces and law enforcement personnel to “remain calm and remain in their positions.”

TV footage showed police officers preventing entry to Parliament, and soldiers wearing helmets and carrying rifles in front of the main building of the Assembly to prevent people from entering.

An Associated Press photographer also reported that he saw at least three military helicopters landing in the vicinity of Parliament, while two or three helicopters were flying over the site.

The rejection of the law was not limited to the opposition forces, as the leader of the "People's Power", to which President Jul belongs, commented that declaring a state of emergency was a "wrong decision," vowing to stop it with the people, according to the Associated Press.

In recent months, Yul has faced a decline in his popularity, as he struggled to pass his agenda in a parliament controlled by opponents since he took office in 2022.

His party was also in a stalemate with the liberal opposition over the budget bill for next year.