South Korea faced an unexpected political crisis when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law On Dec 3, a highly unusual action for a well-established & matured liberal democracy. Although Yoon rescinded the order just 06 hours later after it was unanimously rejected by 190 members of the National Assembly, the repercussions of the event continue to raise questions.
Following this unsuccessful attempt to undermine democratic norms, President Yoon Suk Yeol is under intense pressure to step down. The opposition has initiated impeachment motions and is demanding answers for his actions, specifically to know the underlying tensions leading to his extraordinary decision. Already struggling with low approval ratings, a slim victory in the 2022 presidential election, and a parliament dominated by the opposition, Yoon Suk Yeol’s political future remains unpredictable.
What Happened on 3rd December 2024 & Aftermath, Still Ongoing:
On December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law to take effect at 11:00 p.m. local time, citing the danger posed by North Korean communist forces and the pressing need to root out pro-North, anti-state actors. Since assuming office in May 2022, Yoon has faced growing frustration over the opposition Democratic Party’s repeated obstruction of his domestic and foreign policy agendas. Notably, officials in Washington and several senior members of Yoon Suk Yeol’s own party revealed that they were not informed of his decision beforehand.
Under the martial law declaration, all political activities, including public gatherings, were prohibited, and press freedoms were restricted. Special forces were deployed to secure the National Assembly building, but their transport helicopters initially failed to access a nearby military-designated zone.
In the early hours of December 4, delays in military deployment enabled lawmakers with a critical window to access the parliament building. By 1:00 a.m., 190 National Assembly members, exercising their constitutional authority, held an emergency session. 18 members of the ruling People Power Party joined the opposition in a unanimous vote to overturn Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration.
Despite restrictions on political activity and press freedoms, citizens in Seoul defied the ban, gathering to protest against the martial law, with some demanding President Yoon Suk Yeol’s resignation. South Korean media also continued reporting without interference. Later that morning, Yoon announced that he would accept the National Assembly’s decision and officially withdrew the martial law order, just 6 hours after of its imposition.
After one failed attempt of impeachment, the opposition leaders have again called for impeachment voting in national assembly on 14th December 2024, to remove President Yoon from performing further duties.
Prosecutors have confirmed the arrest of Kim Yong-Hyun, Yoon Suk Yeol’s former defense minister, who resigned on December 5. They are also conducting an investigation into Yoon for charges related to treason and abuse of power. The former defense minister, who took full responsibility for declaring martial law according to a statement from his attorney on Tuesday, became the first government official to be formally arrested late Tuesday evening local time. He was charged with engaging in essential activities related to insurrection and abusing his power during the six-hour period of martial law in effect.
South Korea’s political leaders still hadn’t provided clarity on the course that might lead the country out of the current crisis. What was evident, however, was that the intense partisan tension that contributed to the crisis had not eased.
Reactions and Aftermath
The six-hour martial law episode left an unthinkable mark on South Korea’s political maturity. Public trust in the government was disturbed, and debates about the balance between security and civil liberties triggered. Experts argued that the incident exposed vulnerabilities in South Korea’s democratic mechanism, particularly regarding the President’s power to impose such desperate measures without national assembly’s approval.
On the other hand, some government Officials & Pro-President Politicians defended the decision, stating that the brief imposition of martial law was a precautionary measure to prevent potential instabilities. They underlined that its swift withdrawal demonstrated the government’s commitment to democratic principles and responsiveness to public sentiment.
South Korean police conducted a raid on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office as part of the ongoing investigation into the martial law declaration.
Political Ramifications:
The political turmoil in Seoul introduces significant uncertainty regarding South Korea’s involvement in the U.S.-Japan-South Korea trilateral relationship. Under Yoon’s leadership, Seoul adopted a proactive approach, making efforts to mend strained relations with Tokyo and reinforce the trilateral framework.
Donald Trump’s previous term as U.S. President revealed little optimism about his skepticism towards the traditional U.S.-South Korea alliance. Any renewed strain in Washington-Seoul relations would only deepen the current sense of instability, coming at a time when South Korea is already grappling with the aftermath of Yoon’s martial law decree.
The six-hour martial law in South Korea was a dramatic and unprecedented event that tested the nation’s democratic resilience. While the swift withdrawal of the order reflects the strength of South Korea’s civil society and democratic institutions, it also revealed loopholes that require attention. As South Korea recovers from this episode, moves forward, this event serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency to protect democratic fabric and civil liberties, in a world that is increasingly infected with wars & political crisis.