On December 3, 2024 at 10:23 p.m., President Yoon Suk-yeol 윤석열 대통령 declared martial law 계엄령, in the first suspension of democratic rights in South Korea since the end of military dictatorship in 1987.
In a statement, Yoon claimed that the National Assembly 국회's 22 impeachment attempts of government officials and reduction of government budget amounted to "an anti-state activity that foments treason." Yoon said the emergency martial law was necessary to "protect free Republic of Korea and eliminate the pro-North Korean, anti-state forces."
In response, the opposition Democratic Party 민주당 summoned its lawmakers to the National Assembly.
[This is a developing story. More updates will follow.]