Seoul: President Yoon Suk Yeol's abrupt declaration of "emergency martial law" has plunged South Korea into a political crisis, reminiscent of the country's military dictatorship era in the late 1970s and 80s. Citizens watched in shock as special forces stormed the National Assembly, raising concerns about the fragility of South Korea's hard-earned democratic framework. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Constitution permits the president to declare martial law during national emergencies, such as war. This presidential authority, which temporarily bypasses the separation of powers, is meant for urgent crises. However, there is widespread skepticism about whether the current political situation truly constitutes such a crisis. President Yoon's decision appears to be fueled by his frustration with the majority Democratic Party (DP), which he accuses of repeatedly attempting to impeach heads of key government agencies, including the Korea Communications Commission. He described their actions as "a clear att empt to stage a rebellion against the state." The tensions escalated with the DP's unilateral passage of a significantly reduced budget for the coming year in the DP-dominated Committee on Budget and Accounts. President Yoon criticized the party for leveraging its majority power to "impeach even next year's budget" and vowed to "eradicate all antistate forces" for their perceived harmful intentions. While the DP's actions have drawn criticism, they remained within constitutional boundaries, and the president's martial law declaration is seen as an alarming overreach reminiscent of past unconstitutional regimes. President Yoon's decision to use the military to blockade the legislature and hinder lawmakers' efforts to overturn the martial law has been described as "a rebellion," as martial law is not meant to be enforced on the legislative branch. Disturbingly, Yoon did not consult his aides before declaring martial law. In protest, three of his close aides, including his chief of staff, resigned on Wednesday . Despite strong opposition from his Cabinet, President Yoon reportedly proceeded with the martial law, raising questions about his ability to govern effectively amid such turmoil. President Yoon now faces mounting pressure to assume political and legal responsibility for the chaos he has incited. Calls for the dismissal of Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who allegedly advised Yoon to enact martial law, are growing. The DP and other opposition parties plan to submit a motion to impeach President Yoon on Saturday. Even the governing People Power Party has suggested a Constitutional amendment to shorten the presidential term from five years. As the political landscape remains volatile, the future of President Yoon's administration hangs in the balance, with hopes that major parties will make prudent decisions for the country's future.