South Korea’s Martial Law Announcement: Six Hours of Public Outcry and Legislative Reversal

Hwang, aged nineteen, was observing news coverage of protests in Georgia on Tuesday evening when the television broadcast abruptly shifted focus to his own nation, following South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law. The student, who requested identification solely by his surname, stated, “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.” By Wednesday’s afternoon, he had joined demonstrators gathered outside the National Assembly, still processing the events of the previous night. Hwang remarked, “It’s important for me to be here to show that we are against what Yoon tried to do.” Within slightly under six hours, President Yoon was compelled to retract his unexpected declaration after legislators rapidly moved to obstruct it. Nevertheless, these hours were tumultuous, igniting demonstrations, apprehension, and instability across the country that had chosen him. On Tuesday night, at 23:00 local time (14:00 GMT), President Yoon delivered an unforeseen national address, positioned before blue, uncreased curtains. He stated his intention to implement martial law to safeguard the nation from “anti-state” forces perceived as sympathetic to North Korea. The beleaguered leader is currently embroiled in a stalemate regarding a budget bill and is facing persistent corruption scandals and inquiries into his cabinet members. A night without sleep ensued for Seoul. Soon after Yoon’s declaration, law enforcement officers formed a line along the white metal gates outside the National Assembly building, situated in central Seoul—a structure that the nation’s tourism authorities have characterized as “the symbol of Korean democracy”. Subsequently, the military declared the suspension of all parliamentary functions under martial law. However, neither this directive nor the substantial security deployment deterred thousands from congregating before the assembly, driven by apprehension and indignation. It can be overlooked that South Korea, currently a thriving democracy, experienced its most recent encounter with authoritarianism relatively recently, having transitioned from military rule only in 1987. The last imposition of martial law occurred in 1979. University student Juye Hong, speaking from Seoul, conveyed to BBC World Service’s OS programme that this was “a move I never expected to see in the 21st century in South Korea.” Following Yoon’s surprising announcement, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, conducted a live stream, calling upon citizens to gather and protest at the National Assembly. He additionally requested that his fellow legislators proceed to the assembly to vote against the order. Hundreds of South Koreans responded to the call. Tensions escalated rapidly as a mass of individuals in dark, padded winter coats pressed against police lines in neon jackets, vociferously chanting “no to martial law”. When vehicles transporting military units arrived, crowds obstructed their path. A woman notably lay in defiance between the wheels of one vehicle. In sharp contrast, an appearance of normalcy prevailed throughout the remainder of Seoul. Nevertheless, bewilderment permeated the city. John Nilsson-Wright, an associate professor at the University of Cambridge, informed BBC World Service from Seoul, “The streets look normal, people here are certainly bewildered.” He further noted that the police officer he conversed with was “as mystified as I am.” For some, it was a night without sleep. “At first I was excited at the thought of not going to school today,” 15-year-old Kwon Hoo recounted to the BBC in Seoul on Wednesday. “But then overwhelmingly the sense of fear settled in, that kept me up all night.” A South Korean individual, who requested anonymity, conveyed to BBC OS, “No words can express how afraid I am that things might turn out like North Korea for our people.” Concurrently, reports circulated that special forces had been dispatched to the assembly structure. Helicopters were audible overhead, circling the airspace before descending onto the parliament’s rooftop. Journalists vied for position within the throng outside the gates, actively taking photographs. With increasing apprehension that the government could impose media restrictions, journalists in Seoul maintained communication, sharing guidance on personal safety. Ahn Gwi-ryeong, the 35-year-old spokesperson for the opposition Democratic Party, encountered soldiers at gunpoint. A video capturing this incident, depicting her pulling at the barrel of a soldier’s rifle, has subsequently achieved widespread circulation. She informed the BBC, “I wasn’t thinking about anything intellectual or rational, I was just like, ‘We have to stop this, if we don’t stop this, there’s nothing else.’” She continued, “To be honest, I was a bit scared at first when I first saw the martial law troops. I thought, ‘Is this something that can happen in 21st century Korea, especially in the National Assembly?’” “After such a storm last night, it was hard to get back to reality,” she further stated, reflecting on the preceding evening. “I felt like I was witnessing the regression of history.” While Ahn was engaging with the soldiers, time was running out for opposition lawmakers, who hurried to enter the assembly building to obstruct the order. Upon its blockage, the president would be obliged to retract it. However, first, Members of Parliament and their assistants needed to gain entry. Some navigated through the legs of security personnel, others pushed and shouted at armed soldiers; numerous individuals desperately scaled fences and walls. Hong Kee-won of the Democratic Party informed the BBC that he was compelled to climb a 1.5m (4.9ft)-high fence to access the building, as police obstructed him even after he presented identification confirming his status as a lawmaker. Hong stated that demonstrators assisted him in being lifted over the wall. He had been sleeping when President Yoon issued the announcement; upon being awakened by his wife, he hastened to parliament. Hong asserted, “Democracy is strong here.” He added, “The military needs to listen to us, to the constitution, and not to the president.” Legislators who successfully entered the building gathered closely, exhibiting only marginally more composure than the individuals outside. They swiftly barricaded the entry points using available items such as cushioned benches, long tables, and sofas. A number of individuals attempted to repel soldiers who had managed to enter the assembly building. By 01:00 local time, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik presented a resolution calling for the revocation of martial law. Consequently, less than two hours following Yoon’s surprising declaration, 190 assembled lawmakers, including members of Yoon’s own party, voted unanimously to obstruct it. Subsequent to the vote, opposition leader Lee informed reporters that this represented “a decisive opportunity to break the vicious cycle and return to normal society.” By 04:30, Yoon reappeared on television, before the identical blue curtains, stating his intention to retract martial law. However, he specified that this would only become official once he could convene a sufficient number of his cabinet members to formally rescind the order. The declaration was greeted with applause outside the assembly. In the pre-dawn hours, additional individuals exited the building, from behind the hastily constructed barricades. Bearing holes in its doors and broken windows, the imposing edifice already displayed the marks of the night when South Koreans preserved their democracy. Schools, local enterprises, and banks commenced operations as normal on Wednesday morning, and flights continued to arrive without disruption in South Korea’s bustling capital. Nevertheless, public indignation and the political repercussions persisted. As Wednesday’s sun ascended, thousands convened to demand Yoon’s resignation. The president is also confronting impeachment proceedings. Yang Bu-nam, a Democratic Party politician, conveyed to the BBC, “We are a strong democracy…But Korean people want to be safe – President Yoon must resign or be impeached.” Further reporting was contributed by Rachel Lee in Seoul. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.