South Korean President Yoon Suk-yul declared martial law on Tuesday for the first time in the country since 1980.
Yoon’s announcement saw the president accuse the country’s opposition of controlling parliament, sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the government through anti-state activities.
Below is the full text of the Reuters translation of the military decree:
“In order to protect liberal democracy from the threat of overthrow of the Republic of Korea by anti-state forces active within the Republic of Korea and to protect the safety of the people, the following is declared throughout the Republic of Korea: at 23:00 on 3 December 2024:
1. All political activities are prohibited, including the activities of the National Assembly, local councils, political parties, political associations, marches and demonstrations.
2. All actions that deny or attempt to overthrow the liberal democratic system are prohibited, and the dissemination of fake news, manipulation of public opinion, and false propaganda are prohibited.
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3. All media and publications are subject to martial law control.
4. Strikes, work stoppages, and marches that provoke social chaos are prohibited.
5. All medical personnel, including trainee doctors, who are on strike or have left the medical field, must return to their jobs within 48 hours and work faithfully. Anyone who violates will be punished according to martial law.
6. Innocent ordinary citizens, with the exception of anti-state forces and other subversive forces, will be subject to measures to reduce inconvenience to their daily lives.
Violators of the above declaration may be arrested, detained and searched without a warrant in accordance with Article 9 of the Martial Law Law of the Republic of Korea (Martial Law Commander’s Special Measures Authority), and will be punished in accordance with Article 14 of the Martial Law (Penalties) Law.
Martial Law Commander, Army General Park In-soo, Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
—(Reporting by Jo Min Park) Editing by Mark Heinrich
