Martial law in South Korea. What happened

Martial law is one of the states of emergency in which civilian authority is replaced by military authorities and civil rights are often restricted. It may be introduced in response to crisis situations such as war, riots, threats to national security or internal destabilization.

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In South Korea, the declaration of martial law raises particular emotions because it is a measure with deep historical significance and serious consequences. The country has had several authoritarian periods in its history, and martial law declared in 1980 was a key moment in the fight to democratize the country. Therefore, current events evoke strong associations with that period and fears that democratic gains will be reversed.

On Tuesday afternoon, South Korean President Jun Suk Jeol declared martial law in an unannounced speech broadcast live on YTN television. He explained his decision with the desire to protect the country “against the threat posed by North Korean communist forces”, eliminating anti-state forces supporting “North Korea, which destroy the freedom and happiness of the nation.” He added that the decision was taken to protect the constitutional order.

In his statement, Suk Jeol accused the opposition of paralyzing the government's work. The Yonhap agency explained that the opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, this week filed an impeachment motion against some prosecutors and rejected the government's draft budget.

Around 3 p.m. (11 p.m. on Tuesday in Seoul), the opposition Democratic Party summoned lawmakers to parliament. The leader of the opposition party announced that the National Assembly would try to invalidate the president's decision. He added that Jun may use the armed forces to arrest members of the government.

Shortly thereafter, the leader of the People's Power Party, Han Dong-Hoon, to which the president belongs, announced that imposing martial law was inappropriate. He added that he was in favor of blocking it.

Shortly after the president's statement, crowds began to gather in front of the parliament building. – End martial law! – some shouted. Others called for Jun Suk Jeol's arrest.

The same evening, almost half an hour before midnight in Seoul (around 3:30 p.m. in Poland), the South Korean military announced that all political activities, including the work of the National Assembly (South Korea's unicameral parliament – ed.), local councils and political parties, have been suspended. Organizing demonstrations, meetings and activities of political associations were prohibited.

Before 1 a.m. local time, South Korean martial law forces tried to enter the parliament chamber where a meeting of government members was taking place.

At around 1.30 am (5.30 pm in Poland), the National Assembly of South Korea announced the result of the vote on the abolition of martial law. During the plenary session, in the presence of 190 deputies, a resolution calling for the abolition of the state was unanimously adopted.

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In this situation, according to the constitution of South Korea. Martial law should be abolished.

At around 2 a.m. local time (6 p.m. Polish time), the soldiers withdrew from the parliament building. According to the website of the daily “Dzoson Ilbo”, some of them remained on its premises.

After 4.30 a.m. (8.30 p.m. in Poland), South Korean President Jun Suk Jeol announced that due to the parliament's decision, he would lift martial law.