 "People take part in a rally to demand South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's removal from power, in Seoul, South Korea, December 4, 2024. Reuters")
A massive political upheaval unfolded in South Korea on Tuesday night.
President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late last night, accusing the opposition of threatening the country’s democracy and national stability.
The sudden declaration raised concerns both at home and abroad because it was the first time martial law had been enforced in more than 40 years.
But within hours, Yoon reversed his decision , caving into political pressure during a chaotic night during which parliament was encircled by troops and legislators voted against military rule.
Here’s how the six-hour drama unfolded in South Korea.
Imposing martial law
In a surprise late-night speech, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law , citing opposition forces’ “anti-state activities” that were establishing the government.
Yoon portrayed martial law as essential to defend liberal democracy and counter against North Korean threats.
During his televised announcement, he also described the opposition as “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our citizens.”
A six-point decree from the new martial law commander, Army Chief General Park An-su, swiftly followed, banning political activities and parties, “false propaganda,” strikes and “gatherings that incite social unrest.”
Helicopters landed on the roof, security personnel barricaded the National Assembly, and the military briefly entered the building, apparently to keep MPs from entering.
With Yoon’s move, martial law was imposed for the first time since the nation’s democratisation in 1987.
After former military dictator Park Chung-hee was assassinated, the law was imposed in South Korea for the first time in October 1979.
‘Illegal and unconstitutional’
The opposition lambasted Yoon’s move as undemocratic.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, called Yoon’s announcement “illegal and unconstitutional.”
But the sudden declaration was also opposed by the leader of Yoon’s own conservative party, Han Dong-hoon, who called the decision “wrong” and vowed to “stop it with the people.”
“The people will block the president’s anti-constitutional step. The military must be on the side of the public in any case. Let’s resolutely oppose it,” Kim Dong Yeon, the opposition party governor of Gyeonggi province, which surrounds Seoul, wrote on X.
Average South Koreans were in shock.
Social media was flooded with messages expressing surprise and worry over Yoon’s announcement.
Lifting the law
The leader of the main opposition, which controls parliament, ordered lawmakers to return to the building.
Despite the military, 190 lawmakers voted unanimously to reject the martial law and demand its immediate lifting.
Following the MPs’ voting, Yoon reversed his decision. The soldiers retreated when the motion was accepted by the cabinet.
In a televised statement at 4:30 am, Yoon confirmed the lifting.
Police and military personnel were seen leaving the parliament grounds following the bipartisan vote to overrule the president.
In all, martial law was in effect for about six hours.
Behind the scenes
The declaration of emergency was immediately attributed to Yoon’s political difficulties.
The national budget is reportedly the source of a growing political standoff.
Yoon’s party and the liberal opposition have been unable to agree on the budget bill for the upcoming year.
The president complained that “all key budgets essential to the nation’s core functions” were being cut after the opposition stripped almost 4.1 trillion won ($2.8 billion) from Yoon’s planned 677 trillion won budget for the upcoming year.
Just this month, Yoon denied wrongdoing in an influence-peddling scandal involving him and his wife. The claims have battered his approval ratings and fuelled attacks by his rivals.
The scandal centres on claims that Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon Hee exerted inappropriate influence on the conservative ruling People Power Party to pick a certain candidate to run for a parliamentary by-election in 2022.
They did so at the request of Myung Tae-kyun, an election broker and founder of a polling agency who conducted free opinion surveys for Yoon before he became president.
His approval rating has dropped, and he has had little success in getting his policies adopted by a parliament that has been controlled by the opposition since he took over in 2022.
Calls for resignation
After the martial law move, Yoon now faces increasing pressure domestically.
There are growing calls for accountability over his decision, described as a “tragic” misstep by his own party.
South Korea’s Liberal Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the 300-seat parliament, asked President Yoon to resign immediately or face impeachment.
“President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration was a clear violation of the constitution. It didn’t abide by any requirements to declare it," the Democratic Party said in a statement. “His martial law declaration was originally invalid and a grave violation of the constitution. It was a grave act of rebellion and provides perfect grounds for his impeachment.”
Impeaching him would require support from two-thirds of the parliament, or 200 of its 300 members.
If Yoon is impeached, he’ll be stripped of his constitutional powers until the Constitutional Court can rule on his fate. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the Number two position in the South Korean government, would take over his presidential responsibilities.
The country’s main labour union announced an indefinite strike to protest the “anti-democratic” decision.
The National Assembly secretary general of South Korea has promised to make the military “legally responsible” for any “physical damage and illegal acts” committed during President Yoon’s brief martial law declaration.
“Starting today, the Ministry of National Defense, police, etc. are completely prohibited from entering the National Assembly,” Kim Min-ki said in a speech on Wednesday, according to the South Korean broadcaster MBC.
In the brief time before MPs voted to end martial law, he said, at least 24 helicopters carrying about 230 armed troops had reached the National Assembly premises.
About the law
Army Chief General Park An-su issued an order that placed the media under martial law and prohibited political activity, strikes, and gatherings.
Striking doctors were told to report back to work within 48 hours.
The South Korean constitution allows the president to declare martial law during “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states” that require the use of military force to maintain peace and order, according to the Associated Press.
However, it remained debatable if South Korea is in this situation at present.
“Special measures” may be used to limit the power of judges, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and other liberties while martial rule is in place.
According to the constitution, the president is also required to comply with a majority vote of the National Assembly calling for the removal of martial law.
Although South Korea became a democracy only in the late 1980s, military intervention in civilian affairs is still a touchy subject.
International reaction
The martial law declaration raised alarms both domestically and internationally.
Soon after Yoon lifted the law, the US said it was “relieved President Yoon has reversed course” on his order.
Earlier, Britain and Germany both said they were closely following developments.
China, a key ally of nuclear-armed North Korea, urged its citizens to exercise caution, while Russia, itself increasingly close to Pyongyang, called the situation “alarming.”
With inputs from agencies