South Korea’s martial law chaos triggers panic buying in supermarkets

04 December 2024 , 11:18

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South Korea’s martial law chaos triggers panic buying in supermarkets

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial announcement of martial law has triggered panic buying across South Korea.

Sales of food, water and other essentials surged overnight, all while troops, equipped with rifles and body armour, clashed with protesters in Seoul.

A South Korean convenience store chain, which declined to be identified to avoid association with the current political situation, said sales of canned goods from its stores jumped 337%. Sales of instant noodle packets have risen by 254% and bottled water by 141%, a spokesperson told Reuters.

Hours after Yoon ended the short-lived martial order – the first in almost 50 years in South Korea – his own party voted to lift it. He is now facing calls for resignation.

Emily Hughes