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Military personnel standing in formation, by Dario Daniel Silva via Unsplash, November 25, 2024.
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol imposed martial law on December 3rd, 2024. The declaration led to widespread resistance and clashes. The National Assembly swiftly voted to lift the martial law, and Yoon faced impeachment and investigation, leaving the country in political turmoil.
Yoon Suk-yeol, the president of South Korea, imposed emergency martial law on December 3rd, 2024, the first since 1980. As tensions with North Korea escalated, Yoon made the decision, claiming dangers from both internal “anti-state forces” and “North Korean communist forces”. That action immediately caused great resistance as it gave the government broad authority to restrict freedoms and stifle dissent including the freedom of the press, the freedom of search and assembly.
Within hours of the declaration, the National Assembly building, in the center of Seoul, which is described as “the symbol of Korean Democracy” had police lining the white metal fates. The military then declared martial law and halted all parliamentary activities. Despite the strong security presence, thousands of people gathered in front of the Assembly in worry and rage. Fights broke out between the military and civilians when the martial law forces reportedly tried to enter the building.
The main opposition quickly called its lawmakers to the National Assembly building after the declaration of martial law. According to the law, when the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law with the concurrent vote of a majority of the total members of the Assembly, the president must comply. This process was effectively carried out, as of the 300 members of parliament, 190 were present and all of them voted in favor of the lifting of the martial law.
In the end, the second motion to impeach President Yoon over imposing martial law against the constitution was successful. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is looking into the suspended president on insurrection-related charges after the failed martial law order on December 3rd. The president has not been arrested and he is currently in custody. Parliament has suspended him and impeached him but he will not be removed from office unless a constitutional court upholds the impeachment.
Sources and Further readings:
Lee, R. (2024, December 4). South Korea martial law: The six hours that shook the country. BBC. Retrieved January 18, 2025, from https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98lygwd837o
Lim, A. & Cha. V. (2024, December 3). Yoon Declares Martial Law in South Korea. CSIS. Retrieved January 18, 2025, from https://www.csis.org/analysis/yoon-declares-martial-law-south-korea
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