Washington, D.C. – Today, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law after accusing the country’s main opposition party of anti-state activities. In response, Alan Yu, senior vice president for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
President Yoon’s declaration of martial law is a shocking and illegitimate move to address what clearly appears to be domestic political and policy disputes. This declaration threatens to stifle free speech and undermine democracy and risks plunging one of Asia’s most vibrant democracies backward toward the authoritarian rule that South Koreans have rejected. Taking this extreme measure to combat the supposed influx of communism doesn’t pass the smell test. This action by an unpopular president sets a terrible precedent, relying on the use of force instead of the levers of democracy. The international community must condemn this and urge the restoration of democratic norms in South Korea.
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