President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a state of emergency martial law on the 3rd. He delivered an emergency address announcing this at the Yongsan Presidential Office, shortly after 10:20 PM that evening.
Korea’s Martial Law
Types of Martial Law:
- Emergency Martial Law (비상계엄): Declared during extreme situations like war or armed rebellion, granting military authorities extensive powers.
- Security Martial Law (경비계엄): Implemented in situations of lesser severity to maintain public order and safety.
Legal Basis:
- Article 77 of the Korean Constitution allows the President to declare martial law with approval from the National Assembly.
- Specific procedures and restrictions are governed by the Martial Law Act (계엄법).
Impacts on Civil Liberties:
- Restrictions may be placed on freedoms such as speech, assembly, and movement.
- Judicial authority can be transferred from civilian courts to military courts in some cases.
Historical Context:
- Martial law has been declared several times in South Korea’s history, including during the 1980 Gwangju Uprising and the Korean War, often leading to significant political and social implications.
The reason for declaring martial law.
President Yoon Suk-yeol, in an emergency briefing, declared a state of martial law. He pointed out the recent turmoil in the National Assembly, including impeachment proceedings, special prosecutor investigations, and the unilateral passage of the budget. He stated that through martial law, he would rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which was on the verge of collapse.
He emphasized that 22 impeachment motions had been filed since the beginning of President Yoon’s administration, which is unprecedented both domestically and internationally.
The President also criticized the Democratic Party’s attempt to pass a reduced budget unilaterally, arguing that it undermined the fundamental functions of the state and was turning South Korea into a drug-ridden country and causing a crisis in public safety and livelihoods. He called it financial manipulation.
He further stated that these actions were clear acts of anti-state behavior, attempting to disrupt legitimate state institutions and plotting insurrection. To protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces and to eradicate pro-North and anti-state factions, he declared a state of martial law.
Full transcript of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s emergency address
Dear respected citizens,
As President, I appeal to you with a heart full of anguish.
Since the inauguration of our government, the National Assembly has initiated impeachment proceedings against government officials 22 times. Since the opening of the 22nd National Assembly in June, they are now attempting the 10th impeachment. This is unprecedented in any country, and it is also an unprecedented situation in the history of our nation.
They have paralyzed the judiciary by intimidating judges and impeaching numerous prosecutors, and they are now paralyzing the executive branch by attempting to impeach the Minister of the Interior and Safety, the Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, and the Minister of National Defense.
They have also obstructed the national budget processing by cutting all major budgets related to the fundamental functions of the state, such as the fight against drug crimes and the maintenance of public safety, making South Korea a haven for drugs and plunging public safety into chaos.
The Democratic Party has cut 1 trillion won from the disaster response contingency fund, 384 billion won from support for child care, funding for youth employment, and deep-sea gas field development projects, totaling 4.1 trillion won in cuts in next year’s budget. They have even blocked improvements to military personnel’s salaries and allowances, including raises for junior officers and duty service pay. Such reckless actions with the national budget are nothing but a mockery of the nation’s finances. The Democratic Party has turned the budget into a political tool, and their legislative dictatorship has now extended to impeachment of the budget itself.
State governance is paralyzed, and the people’s sighs are growing louder. This is a blatant act of treason, trampling on the constitutional order of free Korea and disrupting legitimate state institutions established by the Constitution and laws.
The lives of the people are disregarded, and state governance is paralyzed solely for the purposes of impeachment, special prosecutors, and the protection of the opposition leader. Our National Assembly has become a den of criminals, paralyzing the judicial and administrative systems of the country through legislative dictatorship and attempting to overthrow the liberal democratic system.
The National Assembly, which should be the foundation of liberal democracy, has turned into a monster that is destroying the very system. Now, South Korea faces a destiny on the verge of collapse, to the point that it would not be surprising if it fell apart at any moment.
Dear citizens,
I declare a state of emergency to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threats of North Korean communist forces and to eradicate the shameless, pro-North, anti-state forces that are plundering our people’s freedom and happiness. This is to protect the free constitutional order of the nation.
Through this state of emergency, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is on the brink of collapse. I will root out the anti-state forces responsible for the destruction of our country. This is an unavoidable measure to ensure the freedom, safety, and sustainability of the nation, and to pass on a rightful country to future generations.
I will eradicate anti-state forces as soon as possible and restore the country to normal.
While there may be some inconveniences caused to the good citizens who have believed in and supported the constitutional values of the free Republic of Korea through the declaration of martial law, I will focus on minimizing these inconveniences. This measure is necessary for the continued existence of free Korea, and there is no change in our foreign policy stance, which focuses on South Korea fulfilling its responsibilities and contributing in the international community.
As President, I earnestly appeal to you, the citizens. I will dedicate my life and efforts to protecting the free Republic of Korea, relying only on the trust of the people. Please trust me. Thank you.