South Korea Martial Law History Of Military Rule In The Countr
BloombergDEC 3 2024
South Korea: National Assembly Lifts Martial Law Decree
Above: South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung speaks to the media at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 4, 2024, after Pres. Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Dec. 3. Image copyright: Jung Yeon-je/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
As if his unpopular administration tarnished by corruption scandals wasn't disastrous enough, Yoon decided to double down and invoke an illegal martial law out of nowhere to try to dodge mounting political pressure. As expected, that undemocratic move backfired — and the president is now in an even worse situation.
Narrative B
Given the globally unprecedented attempts from the opposition to create chaos in South Korea, Yoon had no choice other than to declare martial law. It's the so-called Democratic Party, rather than the president, that wants to undermine legitimate democratic institutions and the constitutional order in the country.