S. Korean president declares emergency martial law

SEOUL -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday declared an emergency martial law.

Yoon said in a televised emergency address that "I declare an emergency martial law" to eradicate anti-state forces and uphold free constitutional order.

He noted that it was an inevitable step to ensure people's freedom, safety and national sustainability from the anti-state forces seeking to overthrow the country, vowing to eliminate the anti-state forces and normalize the country as soon as possible.

The president said the martial law declaration may cause inconvenience to people who followed the constitutional values, adding that he will make efforts to minimize the inconvenience.

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who reportedly proposed the martial law declaration to Yoon, ordered a meeting of key commanders, urging the military to strengthen vigilance.

The martial law command issued its first decree to ban all political activities relevant to the parliament, local councils and political parties as well as political gatherings and rallies.

It prohibited fake news, public opinion manipulation and false incitement, saying that all media and publishers will be controlled by the martial law command.

Any strike, go-slow and assembly that promote social unrest were prohibited, while all medical personnel who had been on strike or left the medical field, such as resident doctors, were ordered to return to their jobs within 48 hours.

Violators of the decree will be arrested, detained and seized without a warrant and be punished under martial law, the command noted.