Martial Law in South Korea?

On Dec 4, 2024, 10:30 pm Korean time, unpopular president, Yoon Suk Yeol, declared martial law in a surprise late night news conference, throwing everyone into a tizzy, including citizens, police, the parliament, and the military. However, lawmakers rejected the move in a vote and protesters gathered outside parliament to show their displeasure, calling for Yoon’s arrest.

Yoon said in a TV broadcast that opposition parties had taken the parliamentary process hostage. He vowed to eradicate “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces” and said he had no choice but to take the measure to safeguard constitutional order.

After Yoon’s statement the military said activities by parliament and political parties would be banned, and that media and publishers would be under the control of the martial law command. The president didn’t cite any specific threat from the nuclear-armed North, instead he focused on his domestic political opponents.

It is the first time since 1980 that martial law has been declared in South Korea. In May,1980, Chun forced the cabinet to extend martial law to the whole country and in the process closed universities, banned political activities, and further curtailed the press. Before 1987, South Korea experienced much political turmoil and was often ruled by dictatorships. However, in 1987, South Korea strengthened its democracy with a constitutional referendum.

Hmmm, way to gain popularity with your countrymen! Way to go Yoon.

ADDENDUM – Dec 4, 2024
Read this article this morning on Mastodon Excellent summation from an American journalist in the midst of the confusion.

Six hours under martial law in Seoul 0 by Sarah Jeong

ADDENDUM – Dec 14, 2024

Here are the latest developments.

South Korea’s National Assembly voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday, suspending him from office after his stunning declaration of martial law earlier this month caused widespread outrage and plunged the country into a constitutional crisis.

With the impeachment vote, Mr. Yoon has been suspended from office. Under South Korea’s Constitution, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will step in as interim leader.

Mr. Yoon repeated his intention to fight the impeachment in the Constitutional Court, which will now decide whether to reinstate or formally remove him, a process that could take up to six months. “I will never give up,” he said in a televised address shortly after the vote.

Inside the National Assembly, there were loud cheers and gasps from lawmakers when the speaker announced that the votes in favor of impeachment had crossed the 200 needed to pass. The result indicated that 12 lawmakers from Yoon’s party had joined the opposition to impeach him.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court now has 180 days to rule in favor of or against Yoon’s impeachment. If they uphold it, an election for a new president must be held in 60 days.

ADDENDUM – Dec 27, 2024
But wait, there’s more… Jean Mackenzie reports from Seoul.

South Korea has voted to impeach its acting president Han Duck-soo, two weeks after parliament voted to impeach its President Yoon Suk Yeol.

There were rowdy scenes in the National Assembly after the speaker announced that only 151 votes out of 300 would be needed to pass the impeachment bill, as opposed to the 200 votes required to impeach President Yoon.

Lawmakers from Yoon and Han’s PPP ruling party crowded around the speaker’s chair in protest and boycotted the vote.

A total of 192 lawmakers voted for Han’s impeachment.

Prime Minister Han took over the role after President Yoon was impeached by parliament following his failed attempt to impose martial law on 3 December.

But opposition MPs have accused Han of refusing to appoint judges to Yoon’s impeachment trial, effectively stalling proceedings.

Han has agreed to step aside, which means the country’s finance minister, Choi Sang-mok, will become acting president.