What To Know About South Korea’s Martial Law — As Yoon Refuses To Lift It Despite Parliament Vote
ForbesDEC 2024
South Korea's Court Upholds President Yoon's Impeachment
Above: Yoon Suk Yeol speaks to the nation at the Presidential Office on Dec. 7, 2024. Image copyright: South Korean Presidential Office/Handout/Getty Images News via via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The martial law declaration was necessary to counter what appeared to be a parliamentary dictatorship, with the opposition-controlled National Assembly paralyzing the government through repeated impeachment attempts of officials and budget cuts. Yoon acted to protect democratic institutions from what he perceived as anti-state forces sympathetic to North Korea.
Narrative B
Yoon's actions represented a grave violation of democratic principles and an attempted authoritarian takeover that echoed South Korea's dark past of military dictatorship. His deployment of troops to the National Assembly and attempts to prevent lawmakers from voting demonstrated a clear abuse of power that warranted his removal from office.