Jakarta – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday (Dec. 4) at 10:27 PM local time. Members of parliament and the public alike quickly rejected this regulation.
Martial law is a state where regular laws are suspended, and civilian decision-makers are temporarily replaced by the military. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, martial law is only imposed in extreme situations, such as during war.
President Yoon Suk Yeol, who previously declared martial law to protect the country from communist forces, then mentioned their neighbor, North Korea, as a primary threat.
“To protect liberal South Korea from the threats posed by the communist forces of North Korea and to eliminate anti-state elements, I hereby announce martial law,” Yoon said in a televised speech to the people, as quoted by AFP, Tuesday (Dec. 3, 2024).
South Koreans strongly rejected the regulation. Thousands gathered at the Parliament building to protest, and even ordinary citizens helped parliamentarians enter the building, which had been surrounded by the authorities.
The opposition to martial law in South Korea can be traced back to the country’s early independence. After gaining independence, South Korea went through decades of dictatorial rule.
History of Martial Law in South Korea
South Korea gained independence on August 15, 1945, two days after Indonesia’s Independence Day. They successfully pushed back the Japanese forces after 35 years of colonization.
However, South Korea was not fully independent. According to The Guardian, South Koreans lived under the fear of martial law.
The leaders at the time stationed combat troops, tanks, and armored vehicles on the streets or in public places to prevent anti-government demonstrations.
Dictator Park Chung-hee, who ruled South Korea for nearly 20 years before being assassinated by his head of intelligence in 1979, led thousands of troops into Seoul on the morning of May 16, 1961, in the country’s first successful coup.
During his rule, he occasionally declared martial law to suppress protests and imprison critics.
Less than two months after Park Chung-hee’s death, Major General Chun Doo-hwan led tanks and troops into Seoul in December 1979 in the country’s second successful coup. The following year, he orchestrated a brutal military crackdown on a pro-democracy rebellion in the southern city of Gwangju, which killed at least 200 people.
In the summer of 1987, massive street protests forced the Chun government to accept direct presidential elections. His military ally Roh Tae-woo, who had joined Chun’s coup in 1979, won the election held at the end of 1987.
It was only with Roh’s inauguration on February 25, 1988, after 40 years of various forms of authoritarian-military rule, that South Korea became a republic as it is today.
The Abolishment of Martial Law in 2024
After the announcement of martial law, the leader of the country’s largest opposition party, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, called for his fellow members of parliament to gather in the National Assembly to reject the declaration. He also urged ordinary South Koreans to come to the Parliament building in protest.
“Tanks, armored personnel carriers, and armed soldiers with knives will rule this country. Citizens, please come to the National Assembly,” he said, as quoted by the BBC, Wednesday (Dec. 4, 2024).
Thousands of people heeded the call, rushing to gather outside the heavily guarded parliament building. Protesters shouted: “No to martial law!” and “Destroy dictatorship.”
Local media broadcasting from the location showed some scuffles between protesters and the police at the gates. However, despite the military presence, tensions did not escalate into violence.
Members of parliament were seen climbing over fences to break through the tight security. For reference, they needed to meet the quorum to cancel the regulation.
After 190 members of parliament were present, the meeting to cancel martial law began. A total of 190 out of 300 parliamentarians united in rejecting martial law.
“The imposition of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol is illegal and invalid,” said Lee.
A few hours later, President Yoon Suk Yeol announced that martial law had been lifted, and the military would withdraw from the operation. Yoon made this statement after martial law was rejected by the South Korean parliament.
