South Korea’s Opposition Leader Mistook President’s Martial Law Declaration for Deepfake

South Korea's president, Yoon Suk Yeol, made a surprising announcement by declaring martial law in a televised address on Tuesday. The leader of the liberal Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, initially believed it was a digitally altered deepfake video.

A Shocking Declaration

Lee Jae-myung, South Korea's main opposition figure, shared his initial reaction to the president's martial law declaration in an interview with CNN. He recounted the moment when his wife showed him a YouTube video of the announcement while they were in bed at home.

"I was lying in bed with my wife in our home … when my wife suddenly showed me a YouTube video and said, 'The president is declaring martial law,'" Lee Jae-myung told CNN.

Lee expressed his disbelief and suspicion, stating, "That's a deepfake. It has to be a deepfake. There's no way that's real."

Unprecedented Decree

President Yoon Suk Yeol's decision to impose martial law took many by surprise. The decree allowed for temporary military control and the suspension of civilian government activities and civil liberties, marking the first instance since South Korea's democratization in 1987.

Yoon justified the declaration as a measure to prevent subversion by North Korea, the country's historical adversary. However, critics suggest that the move was also aimed at quelling internal dissent and solidifying his authority.

Despite the initial declaration, President Yoon reversed course six hours later in response to widespread protests. Members of parliament had to navigate barricades and walls to access the National Assembly, where they voted against the decree.

Growing Opposition

Lee gained significant attention on social media for live-streaming his attempt to enter the National Assembly by climbing over a fence to oppose the decree. He condemned Yoon's actions as unconstitutional.

The backlash against the president has intensified, with all six opposition parties submitting an impeachment motion, scheduled for a vote later in the week. Yoon narrowly defeated Lee in the 2022 presidential election, which was the closest in South Korean history.

Since taking office, Yoon's administration has faced numerous controversies and dwindling approval ratings. Several high-ranking government officials, including the defense minister, have resigned in response to the turmoil.

In the aftermath of the martial law announcement, the South Korean currency experienced a significant drop, depreciating by as much as 3% against the US dollar.

Source: Business Insider

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By: habraham@insider.com (Hannah Abraham)
Title: South Korea’s Opposition Leader Mistook President’s Martial Law Declaration for Deepfake
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/south-korea-opposition-leader-martial-law-declaration-was-deepfake-2024-12
Published Date: Thu, 05 Dec 2024 13:16:50 +0000