President Yoon's Declaration and Revocation of Emergency Martial Law

English Text

On December 3, President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a "state of emergency martial law" but lifted it about six hours later following the National Assembly's demand. Martial law refers to the restriction of administrative and judicial powers in certain regions to protect public safety and order. Emergency martial law is a specific type of martial law declared by the president only during wartime, major national disasters, or similar state emergencies.

During his emergency address that night, President Yoon argued that the National Assembly was paralyzing the government by proposing 22 impeachment motions against government officials since his administration began. Impeachment refers to the process of punishing or suspending a public official accused of illegal activity. The National Assembly initiates impeachment by formally requesting a trial. The president cited such actions and the National Assembly's decision to cut next year’s government budget as disruptions to the nation's operations, justifying his declaration of martial law. This marked the first martial law declaration in South Korea in 45 years, since 1979.

When martial law is declared, a Martial Law Command, led by a senior military officer, is established. At 11 p.m. on December 3, the Martial Law Command issued orders prohibiting political activities by the National Assembly and political parties, restricting all media and publishing activities under its control, and banning gatherings that might cause social unrest.

According to the South Korean Constitution (Article 77), the National Assembly is the only institution with the authority to demand the lifting of martial law. If more than half of the 300 members of the National Assembly request its termination, the president must comply. After the declaration, 190 lawmakers convened urgently and unanimously passed a resolution to end the state of emergency martial law. As a result, President Yoon officially lifted martial law at 4:30 a.m. on December 4 after a cabinet meeting.

Many lawmakers criticized President Yoon’s declaration as unconstitutional, arguing that the situation did not meet the criteria for a state of emergency as defined by the Constitution. They also pointed out procedural flaws, such as the failure to notify the National Assembly immediately, as required by law. Consequently, political analysts predict that President Yoon will face intense pressure from the political sphere and be cornered into a difficult situation moving forward.



Vocabulary Matching

Match the terms to their correct definitions:

  1. Martial law
  2. Impeachment
  3. Resolution
  4. Unconstitutional
  5. Paralyze

Definitions:

  1. A legal action taken to punish or suspend a government official accused of misconduct.
  2. A formal decision made by a group through voting.
  3. A situation where the usual law is replaced by military authority.
  4. Preventing a system or organization from functioning.
  5. Violating or not complying with the Constitution.

Discussion Questions

  1. What is martial law, and why might a president declare it?
  2. Do you think the president's decision to declare martial law was justified in this case? Why or why not?
  3. What is the role of the National Assembly in protecting the Constitution during an emergency?
  4. Why is it important to follow legal procedures when declaring martial law?
  5. What lessons can be learned from the events surrounding this martial law declaration?

Writing Activity

Write a short essay (100-150 words) about the importance of balance between government power and democracy. Include examples from the article to support your points.


Research Exercise

Complete the comparison between a state of emergency and a democratic government. Add two more points to each category.


State of Emergency

  1. Gives temporary, extensive power to one authority.
  2. Limits citizens' rights to ensure order.

Democratic Government

  1. Shares power among branches of government.
  2. Protects citizens' rights and freedoms.

Answer Key

A. Vocabulary Matching

  1. Martial law - c
  2. Impeachment - a
  3. Resolution - b
  4. Unconstitutional - e
  5. Paralyze - d

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