After eight hours of unrest, the country’s embattled president declared martial law but was forced to lift it amid widespread condemnation, plunging the country’s political landscape into chaos and uncertainty. The events began to unfold last night local time, as most South Koreans were preparing to go to sleep, as angry lawmakers forced their way into parliament to overturn the decree, with protesters demanding the removal of President Yun Seok-yeol and a return to the country’s painful authoritarian history. At dawn, the president capitulated and agreed to lift martial law.
Congress workers spray fire extinguishers on soldiers in Seoul during a protest last night. (AP) But questions remain about the future of Yoon Young-chul’s presidency, his party’s rule and what happens next in South Korea, one of the world’s most important economies and a major Western ally. Here’s what we know.
What happened? What is martial law?
Yoon declared martial law in an unannounced late-night televised address at around 10.30pm local time (12.30am AEDT) yesterday, accusing South Korea’s main opposition party of sympathising with North Korea and engaging in “anti-state” activities. He also cited motions by the opposition Democratic Party, which holds a majority in parliament, to impeach a top prosecutor and veto the government’s budget proposals. Martial law refers to temporary rule granted to the military during a state of emergency, which the president has the constitutional power to declare. But the announcement was a bombshell that shook the democratic nation and set off a shocking late-night political showdown. In a country with a strong contemporary tradition of free speech, Yoon’s military order banned all political activity, including protests, rallies and party events, according to Yonhap News Agency.
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol was forced to abandon martial law after lawmakers voted late at night. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Protests continued today in South Korea’s capital. Protesters held a banner that read “We condemn Yoon Seok-yeol’s illegal martial law decree.” (Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images via CNN Newsource) It also prohibits “denial of free democracy or attempted subversion,” as well as “manipulation of public opinion.” In the end, the decree lasted only a few hours. Lawmakers swarmed parliament, pushing aside soldiers who had been deployed to block the building. At a special emergency session late in the night, attendees voted unanimously to block the decree, a vote the president was legally obliged to comply with. The country’s political blocs united against Yoon Seok-yeol’s decree — including members of his own party, whose leader apologized to the public and demanded an explanation from the president. At 4:30 a.m., Yoon announced that he would comply and lift martial law, saying he had withdrawn troops that had been deployed earlier that night. But he doubled down on blaming the opposition, which frustrated the South Korean government, which was heavily criticized for the move, calling on lawmakers to stop “legislative manipulation.” Yoon’s cabinet then voted to cancel the decree.
Political paralysis
South Korea has been in a bitter political deadlock for months after the country’s liberal opposition won a majority in parliament in April. The election was widely seen as a referendum on Yoon, whose approval ratings have plummeted amid a series of scandals and controversies since he took office in 2022. Yoon, a conservative, has clashed with the opposition on many policies that require legislation, preventing him from fulfilling campaign promises to cut taxes and ease business regulations.
Thousands gathered in front of the National Assembly in Seoul to demand that President Yoon step down. (AP) President Yoon has also grown increasingly frustrated with opposition efforts to impeach government officials, some of whom he appointed, including the chairman of the broadcasting regulator, the country’s auditor general and several top prosecutors, according to Yonhap News Agency. Prosecutors are particularly vexing for President Yoon. Opposition lawmakers argue that they have failed to prosecute Yoon’s wife, the first lady, who has been embroiled in scandals and allegations of stock manipulation.
What was the response?
Anger, shock and confusion immediately gripped South Korea and the world after the decree was issued. Late last night, residents of the capital Seoul rushed home to be with their families, while others gathered in front of the National Assembly, where law enforcement officers told some of them they might be arrested without a warrant. Many protesters held signs and flags calling for Yun Young-chul’s impeachment. Some lawmakers appeared to clash with authorities outside the National Assembly, with television footage showing troops trying to enter the main hall, but began to withdraw hours later when lawmakers blocked the decree.
What does it mean for the US?
The United States expressed “grave concern” after Yoon declared martial law, and expressed relief after he lifted it, saying democracy is at the heart of the U.S.-South Korea alliance. The two countries have a decades-old mutual defense treaty, which means both sides must aid each other if attacked. Major U.S military installations are spread across South Korea, where nearly 30,000 U.S troops are stationed. The U.S. Army’s Camp Humphreys is the largest U.S military installation outside the United States, with more than 41,000 American service members, civilian workers, contractors and dependents stationed there. Along with Japan and the Philippines, South Korea is one of three regional partners with the United States that have a mutual defense treaty, and the three countries have helped strengthen U.S power in the Asia-Pacific region for decades. Supporters argue that having a large number of U.S troops on the Korean Peninsula is crucial to deter any potential North Korean attacks as Kim Jong Un’s regime continues to build its nuclear arsenal, and as a way to strengthen the U.S presence in the region to counter Chinese aggression. North Korea has also become a key player in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, sending troops to help Moscow fight, embroiling an isolated Asian power in the largest conflict in Europe since World War II.
What happens now?
There are still many uncertainties, including the fate of the president and other top leaders. Yoon’s chief of staff and more than 10 senior presidential secretaries have submitted their resignations, according to the president’s office. The main opposition party said it would launch impeachment proceedings if Yoon does not step down immediately, calling his actions unconstitutional. The head of Yoon’s party also called for the removal of the defense minister, who suggested martial law. South Korea’s largest umbrella labor union also said today that its members would go on an indefinite general strike until Yoon resigns. As of this morning, a heavy police presence remained outside the National Assembly building. Yoon postponed his first public meeting of the morning, according to Yonhap News Agency. This is not the first time he has faced calls for impeachment, and protests demanding his resignation have occurred frequently, with one petition garnering hundreds of thousands of signatures, according to Reuters.
Is this unusual for South Korea?
Yes — especially given the country’s long and painful road to democracy after decades of authoritarian rule. South Korea has been a vibrant democracy since the 1980s, with regular protests, free speech, fair elections, and peaceful transfers of power. Domestic politics have long been divisive, with presidents on both sides of the political divide often facing prosecution both in office and when they leave office. Martial law is unheard of in the modern democratic era, and South Korea has become a major exporter and cultural powerhouse, thanks in part to the global popularity of K-pop and K-dramas. But South Korea’s political history is dark.
Police stood guard in front of the National Assembly in Seoul last night as people tried to enter. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)For much of the Cold War, South Korea experienced a series of strongman leaders and military rulers who repeatedly declared martial law — sometimes to stay in power amid growing public discontent. Back then, protests could easily turn deadly, and the military would move in to crush those who resisted.The last time a South Korean president declared martial law was in 1980, during a nationwide uprising led by students and labor unions. It wasn’t until 1988 that South Korea chose its president in free, direct elections.That’s why protesters yesterday and today held signs and chanted slogans vowing never to return to a dictatorship whose memory is still fresh in many people’s minds.