South Korea declares martial law amid 'rebellion' --Defense Ministry has put the military on full alert | 3 Dec 2024 | South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed emergency martial law on Tuesday, accusing the opposition, which he claims is sympathetic to the North, of "anti-state" activities. "The martial law is aimed at eradicating pro-North Korean forces and to protect the constitutional order of freedom,” Yoon said. According to the Yonhap news agency, the Defense Ministry has put the military on full alert. Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung has slammed the move as "unconsitutional." His party shot down Yoon's 2025 budget bill last week and has been calling for probes into several scandals surrounding the president's wife and senior officials. 17:33 GMT: Protesters gathered outside South Korea's National Assembly have begun calling for the arrest and imprisonment of President Yoon Suk Yeol after he imposed martial law on Tuesday night.