South Korea was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday after the president declared martial law in a bid to combat “anti-state forces”. The shocking declaration lasted less than three hours, and was overturned when almost 200 politicians broke through police blockades, entered parliament, and voted to lift martial law. With protests erupting on the streets and the president now facing impeachment proceedings, many are questioning whether the sweeping crackdown was worth it.
South Korea’s constitution allows the president to introduce martial law when they are “required to cope with a military necessity or to maintain the public safety and order by mobilisation of the military forces in time of war, armed conflict or similar national emergency”. The declaration gives the army powers to take control of law and order, but is rarely enforced in the democratic country due to its association with authoritarian leaders of the past. By suspending all existing laws, martial law also allows for a suspension of the normal civil rights that civilians are entitled to.
Tuesday was the first time that martial law had been declared in South Korea in almost 50 years. It was last enforced in 1979 when the country’s long-term military dictator Park Chung-hee was assassinated. Martial law was not lifted until 1987, when South Korea moved from military dictatorship to democracy.
Technically, martial law was only in effect for 155 minutes, between the live declaration and the vote to overturn it. But the South Korean armed forces had earlier introduced a string of measures that set the tone for a longer period of military rule. These included suspending all political gatherings that could cause “social confusion”, and tightly controlling the news shared by all media publications. The military also called on all striking doctors to return to work within 48 hours, after months of them protesting a government push to recruit more medical students. The military warned that anyone who violated its martial laws could be arrested.
In a shock address to the nation on live TV, Yeol claimed he was imposing martial law to save South Korea from “anti-state forces intent on overthrowing the regime.” The president branded the opposition-controlled National Assembly a “den of criminals” that was “attempting to paralyse” the government. Critics saw Yeol’s announcement as a desperate bid to strengthen his grip on power, especially after facing struggles since his narrow win in 2022. South Koreans immediately denounced the move, associating martial law with authoritarian rule in the past.
Following the political turmoil, South Korean opposition parties have submitted a motion to impeach Yoon Suk Yeol. The president will be removed from power if two-thirds of MPs vote in favour of impeachment. The Democratic party stressed that the martial law declaration was a clear violation of the constitution and a grave act of rebellion.
In summary, the shock declaration of martial law in South Korea sparked chaos and led to widespread protests and political turmoil. The quick reversal of the declaration raised questions about the president’s motives and the impact of such drastic measures on the country’s democratic foundations. The events highlighted the deep-rooted fears and aversion toward authoritarian rule in South Korea, serving as a reminder of the country’s tumultuous history with military dictatorship.