BY: CARESSE LIANG / STAFF WRITER
In a country that is built on a thriving democracy, the declaration of martial law came as a shock that rattled South Korea to its core. On Dec. 3, 2024, at 10:30 p.m., South Korean President Yoon Suk Chul declared martial law during a late-night conference.
The concept of martial law has been applied in many situations across history, ultimately placing most government control into the hands of the military. It suspends all activity among citizens in the country for an indefinite amount of time, leading to a dismissal of civil law and civil rights. This is a dramatic decision that is typically used for political leaders in countries that have an assumed threat.
This decision was heavily influenced by his personal belief that South Korea was under “the [threat] of North Korean communist forces,” with the intention of liberating the country from these influences and ensuring a progressive future for the country.
While it lasted for six hours, it was quickly dropped with a vote of 190-0 from the South Korean Parliament. The president, now facing possible impeachment, reluctantly lifted the martial law declaration at 4:30 a.m., a feat that has not been done since 1987.
For a country like South Korea, this meant suspending the operations of the National Assembly—a government system similar to the Supreme Court—and temporarily placing the legal system under the control of Yoon’s government and his military personnel. However, the National Assembly does have the power to reject and vote to remove this declaration, so long as they are in office.
Surrounding the ongoing tensions, South Koreans did not hesitate to display acts of protest against this quick change of government. A multitude of posters and fists were raised high in the air, demanding for President Yoon to step down.
Under military guard, the lawmakers of the National Assembly managed to shove through the blockade of 300 military troops and nullified this proclamation, with a unanimous vote of 190-0 against the imposition. The majority of the government officials condemned the actions of the blockade, with both Kim Min-ki, the secretary general of South Korea’s National Assembly, and Ahn Gwi-ryeong, a politician for the South Korean Democratic Party, openly discussing the decision.
Mr. Kim commented on the obstruction with a statement stating, “I strongly condemn the illegal, unconstitutional actions of the military and the destruction it caused at the National Assembly premises due to President Yoon’s decree of martial law.”
For Ms. Ahn, there has been a video circulating that features her forcefully pushing through a crowd of military personnel. She’s been noted for physically pushing away the gun of a military troop while shouting, “Let go of me! Let go of me! Aren’t you ashamed? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”
After the continuous protests and the nullification of this spontaneous decision, President Yoon lifted the martial law after six hours. His response put him into deeper turmoil around the country, as it is expected that his motion for martial law deepened the political debates about democracy in South Korea.
He has since apologized for imposing this decision onto the country, placing himself into further scandal and reducing his presidential approval rating to a mere 19%.
In his words, “The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. However, in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. “I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot.”
Concurrent with this trend, he now faces impeachment charges from both parties: the Korean Democratic Party and the People Power Party—the latter of which is his own. The protests have further intensified the demand for President Yoon’s removal from office, as hundreds of thousands of South Koreans display their independence away from Yoon’s declaration.
As tensions between South Koreans and politicians continue to rise, South Korea’s political landscape remains turbulent. While the timing of President Yoon’s impeachment remains uncertain, the crowd’s demands for accountability and political change are becoming louder with each passing day.
This event marks a pivotal moment in South Korean politics, with the outcome potentially changing the country’s political future for years to come.
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