At 4:30 am (KST), South Korean President Yoon raised the emergency declaration of martial law in accordance with the majority decision in the National Assembly.

On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a state of emergency in an unannounced nationally televised address at 10:30 p.m. (KST), citing the need to protect the country from “North Korean communist forces” and “anti-state forces.” “ and to “rebuild and protect South Korea from ruin.” This is the first time martial law has been declared since 1980, when Chun Doo-hwan staged a military coup following the assassination of President Park Chung-hee in 1979.

Q1: What has happened since President Yoon declared martial law?

A1: Since the news broke, police vehicles have barricaded the National Assembly’s front gate while dozens of armed soldiers have entered the building. Martial law troops forcibly entered the main building of the National Assembly by breaking a window. Martial Law Commander and Army Chief of Staff Park An-su had earlier issued a “Martial Law Command Proclamation (No. 1),” declaring that all political activities, including the operations of the National Assembly, local assemblies, political parties , political associations, meetings and protests are prohibited.

Nevertheless, at 1:00 a.m. (KST), the National Assembly passed a resolution calling for the lifting of martial law, with all 190 of 300 members present voting in favor. According to Article 77 of the South Korean Constitution, if the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law with the consent of a majority of its members, the President is obliged to comply. By 1:12 a.m. (KST), soldiers had retreated near the third gate of the National Assembly and about 2,000 citizens gathered in front of the main gate, chanting “Long live the Republic of Korea!”

Q2: Is this declaration of martial law emergency unprecedented?

A2: No, there have been 16 declarations of martial law since the country’s founding in 1948. According to Article 77 of the South Korean Constitution, a president can declare martial law in response to war, incidents or other national emergencies. There are two types of martial law: emergency and security law.

By declaring emergency law, President Yoon can now “restrict freedom of expression, publication, assembly and association” and implement “special changes in the powers of governments or courts, as well as an arrest warrant system in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws.”

Pursuant to Proclamation No. 1 (Martial Law Decree), effective as of 11:00 p.m. (KST), the following measures have been implemented:

• All political activities, including the activities of the National Assembly, local assemblies, political parties, political associations, meetings and protests, are prohibited.
• Any act that denies or attempts to undermine the democratic system is prohibited, including fake news, manipulation of public opinion and false incitement.
• All media and publications are under the control of the Martial Law Command.
• Socially disruptive actions such as strikes, slowdowns or gatherings are prohibited.
• All medical personnel, including interns, who are on strike or have deserted their medical posts must return to duty within 48 hours and serve diligently. Violators will be punished under the Martial Law Act.
• With the exception of anti-state forces and those attempting to undermine the system, innocent citizens are provided with measures to minimize disruption to their daily lives.

Any violator of the Proclamation may be arrested, detained, searched and seized without warrant and shall be punished in accordance with Article 14 of the Martial Law Act.

Q3: What motivated President Yoon to declare martial law?

A3: The opposition Democratic Party has been warning about this threat since September. Last week, the opposition-led National Assembly cut the government’s budget for next year and initiated proceedings to remove the head of the state audit agency and the prosecutor general from office.

In his speech, President Yoon criticized the opposition, which has a parliamentary majority, for holding a “legislative dictatorship” that has hindered his ability to effectively govern the country, citing 22 impeachment attempts since he took office in May 2022.

Q4: How did the opposition and the public react to the declaration of martial law?

A4: The opposition Democratic Party immediately called on lawmakers to gather in the National Assembly, with party leader Lee Jae-myung calling on them and Korean citizens to “protect collapsing democracy.” In a live broadcast on YouTube, Lee stated that President Yoon had betrayed the people and that from this moment on he was no longer the President of the Republic of Korea.

Even members of President Yoon’s own party, including People Power Party Chairman Han Dong-hoon, have spoken out against the declaration, saying, “This is an illegal and unconstitutional declaration of martial law.” The Republic of Korea is a free democracy, and we will protect our democracy together with the people” (authors’ translation).

South Korean citizens have gathered outside the National Assembly, where clashes reportedly broke out between military and civilians as martial law troops attempted to enter the building.

Q5: What happens next?

A5: The Biden administration remained cautious in its comments on developments in Korea, saying more information would become available and any political conflicts needed to be resolved peacefully.

North Korean statements have not yet emerged, but Pyongyang will almost certainly exploit these unrest for propaganda purposes against the Yoon government.

Despite the lifting of the martial law declaration early on the morning of December 4, Yoon’s domestic survivability is currently uncertain. Although this was intended as a strong and decisive move by Yoon to prevent political unrest, the rapid mobilization of the legislature to lift the martial law declaration and a likely wave of street protests against a president who has a 10 percent approval rating could spell Yoon’s downfall.

Andy Lim is Deputy Director and Korea Chair Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC. Seiyeon Ji is Deputy Director and Associate Fellow in the Korea Chair at CSIS. Victor Cha is President of the Department of Geopolitics and Foreign Policy and Korea Chair at CSIS.