In all, South Korea was under martial law for six hours.
At 10.23 pm on December 3, the country’s president Yoon Sukyeol declared martial law – meaning that a military rule would supersede the civilian government. The last time the country was under martial law was 1987, the year a military dictatorship gave way to a republic – which continues to be the format of government in South Korea.
The martial law commander, Army Chief of Staff General Park An-su, said soon after that “all political activities, including those related to the National Assembly, regional assemblies, political parties, the forming of political organisations, rallies and protests are banned.”
Park said “anti-state forces” were threatening to overthrow the country. His decree also immediately put the press under the administration’s control.
Incidentally, Yoon’s last ever post on X, on November 19, is with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. Comparisons between the two leaders have been frequent. Yoon’s tenure was marked by questions of overreach, over appointments of government officials without following due process, over his attempts to muzzle the press, on his government’s moves to revise history, and his wife’s numerous scandals including stock manipulation and the acceptance of a luxury bag.
Indian residents who have read of Modi’s Rs 13,000-crore Central Vista project plans will find odd resonance in Yoon’s decision to move his official residence away from the historical Blue House (allegedly on a prophet’s advice) – something which purportedly led to a reassignment of security forces that is said to have contributed to the Itaewon crowd crush in 2022, killing 159 people. Yoon also rode to power riding on an intensive anti-North Korea rhetoric.
But the most crucial point of difference between Modi and Yoon is the rest of their respective countries – South Korea has been active in preventing Yoon’s stomping attempts.
Amidst his devastating lack of popularity – with an approval rating hovering at 19-20% – he suffered a humiliating loss in the elections for the National Assembly earlier this year.
Last evening, when Yoon claimed that the opposition-led National Assembly’s 22 impeachment attempts of his government officials and its blocking of budget legislation as moves that amounted to “an anti-state activity that foments treason,” the opposition and ordinary Koreans rushed to the National Assembly.
Midnight came and went, and what was imagined as a chokehold on rights became a furious show of strength.
Dramatic scenes unfolded, including the viral moment where journalist-turned-politician Ahn Gwiryeong attempted to wrest the rifle out of a soldier’s arm and asked, “부끄럽지 않이야?” – ‘Not ashamed?”. In another photograph, a purported civilian is seen essaying a moment similar to that of the Tiananmen tank man in 1989.
이 여성분 엄청 용감하심 군인한테서 총 빼앗으려고 하시다가 총 겨눠지기까지 하는데 절대로 굴하지 않아 pic.twitter.com/tk0nG1MO2L
— 蕉文 (@youlu_v0v) December 3, 2024
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#Seoul A man stops a military vehicle to move nearby the #national Assembly building #SouthKorea pic.twitter.com/JMP1dsMKYY
— Sebastien Falletti (@fallettiseb) December 3, 2024
Although most of South Korea’s online commentary takes place on the homegrown Naver platform, some of it was relayed to X – mostly by conscientious Korean music fans who had long since been executing this role, only for a cultural purpose so far. Accounts devoted to popstars’ careers morphed into live update centres.
omg bibi just went live and everyone told her to check the news, then she ended the live 😭😭 bless her heart
— ❖em⁺¹ is seeing piwon !?!? (@p1ecerangi) December 3, 2024
Many delivered irreverent but logical takes on footage of lawmakers and citizens fighting off soldiers of the army with evident ease at the National Assembly by pointing to the fact that the country’s mandatory military service for men – for 18 months, usually – has ensured that civilians are at least partially trained to take on some of the army.
특전사 진입 시도중입니다 pic.twitter.com/Y9bYkTObMq
— 𝙆𝙞𝙢 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙖𝙚 (@minjoo_hongtae) December 3, 2024
Sixty-year-old Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, and assumed a favourite for the president’s post, broadcast his act of climbing over the blockade at the parliament live on Instagram, as 70,000 appreciative viewers cheered him on. Lee is fighting four criminal cases brought against him by the Yoon administration – he was recently found guilty of violating the Election Act.
National Assembly speaker Woo Wonshik broadcast the scene from inside the building for two hours.
On the Korean Broadcasting System or KBS channel – the national broadcaster known for being stuffy – a reporter paused to allow a bystander to scream some choice obscenities at Yoon.
The reporter’s expression kind of says it all lol pic.twitter.com/bH2BGyI2Tu
— Joseph Kim (@josungkim) December 3, 2024
Nearly all commentators are united in their vote that the roil flagged off by Yoon can only end in his resignation. Sleepless opposition lawmakers have tabled a motion to impeach Yoon but the process is likely to take all of today. A Democratic Party lawmaker Hong Keewon, told the BBC, “Democracy is strong here.”
Korea’s oldest paper, Chosun Ilbo, which has forever been conservative, said in its Korean language editorial that, “There is a reasonable limit to everything.”
It has called the late-night declaration – ordered by Yoon because “the Democratic Party was running wild” – “a seriously excessive measure”.
“How can we muzzle the basic rights of the people at this time?” it asked.
The Chosun Ilbo editorial notably does not call for a resignation, but that Yoon take responsibility for the situation he created.
The left-wing Hankyoreh in its English editorial said, “Yoon’s declaration of martial law is a betrayal of the nation”. In its Korean editorial, it was more meditated, noting that there is no guarantee that Yoon, who has “already pointed his gun at the people,” will not declare martial law again. Although the Korean editorial does have a very clear headline – “President Yoon, resign immediately.” It also says that the ruling People Power Party’s decision to not “share the people’s fear and instead think of strategic calculations will face a strong backlash.”
The liberal Kyunghyang Shinmun said the move was a “treason against people.” The Maekyung, a business newspaper, said in its editorial that Korea, as one of the world’s top 10 economies cannot afford to have blood on its streets but appeared to appeal to opposition leaders and protesters to prevent such an eventuality from taking place.
At the Korea Press Centre, news professionals have gathered since this morning, to call unitedly for Yoon’s removal, given the martial law’s implications on press freedom.
Amidst uncertainty, the day remains a testament to the will of the people.
