Social media takes center stage in tense hours of martial law in South Korea

In the tense first hours of martial law in South Korea, social media emerged as a lifeline for defiance, with politicians, journalists and ordinary citizens using it to document and disseminate real-time developments. On YouTube, X and Instagram, short clips and videos flowed from the scene as the unexpected event unfolded in the middle of the night. Main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who had rallied his party’s lawmakers to the Assembly, began livestreaming on his YouTube channel at

Dec. 4, 2024

Swedish Prime Minister cancels Seoul visit

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has canceled his trip to Seoul this week, his office said Wednesday. The prime minister had planned to make an official two-day visit to Seoul starting Thursday. Below are the statements from the prime minister's office. ”We have closely followed developments during the night of December 3rd. With recent developments we have concluded that it is better to travel to the Republic of Korea in the future. As in all democracies, political difference

Dec. 4, 2024

Tuesday's developments confirm lawmakers' 'martial law predictions'

The notion that a democratic-era South Korean president would declare martial law in a non-combat situation would’ve appeared far-fetched even a day ago. But what had been dismissed by the presidential office as a cock-and-bull story to "shake the administration" became reality Tuesday night, as the country saw emergency martial law declared for the first time since the days of military dictatorship. Now some people are questioning whether members of the main opposition Democrati

Dec. 4, 2024

Yoon's senior aides resign en masse

Senior officials at the presidential office, including chief of staff, collectively tendered their resignations Wednesday morning in the wake of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration and subsequent lifting of martial law. The presidential office told reporters that “Chief of staff and senior secretaries have collectively offered their resignations.” Senior aides reportedly reached a consensus to resign during a meeting of senior secretaries presided over by Chief of Staff Chu

Dec. 4, 2024

‘Wow:’ Elon Musk reacts to South Korea’s martial law news

Elon Musk -- the Tesla CEO and joint head of US President Donald Trump's planned Department of Government Efficiency -- expressed shock over the news of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declaration martial law, responding multiple times on social media X. On Tuesday night, Musk reacted to a post by an X user that said South Korean President Yoon declared martial law. Musk replied with a double exclamation mark “!!” Roughly three hours later, Musk commented “Wow”

Dec. 4, 2024

Yoon Suk Yeol postpones meeting on drug control

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday postponed his plan to attend a meeting to review drug control measures, according to the presidential office, hours after he agreed to the parliament's request to revoke martial law. "The meeting to assess the current status of drug control measures, originally set to take place at the presidential office, has been rescheduled," an official said.

Dec. 4, 2024

Ruling party chair urges President Yoon Suk Yeol to dismiss defense minister

Han Dong-hoon, chairman of the ruling People Power Party on Wednesday urged South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to immediately dismiss the minister of national defense, who recommended the declaration of martial law. The former justice minister said all officials accountable for the crisis must face serious consequences, stressing that the president himself should be able to provide a detailed explanation of the situation. "As the ruling party, we deeply apologize to the public for this di

Dec. 4, 2024

South Korean Cabinet votes to end martial law

President Yoon Suk Yeol convened a Cabinet meeting early Wednesday and formally approved the lifting of the martial law he declared just hours earlier, following the National Assembly’s vote. This put an end to the six-hour chaos that erupted after President Yoon declared martial law on Tuesday night against "anti-state forces" within the country, imposing a nationwide ban on assembly and political activities among others. The Prime Minister’s Office said the Cabinet voted

Dec. 4, 2024

Opposition parties submit motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol

South Korea's six opposition parties on Wednesday submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over the martial law declaration the previous day. The six parties - the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, and minor oppositions Rebuilding Korea Party, Reform Party, Jinbo Party, Basic Income Party and Social Democratic Party - plan to put the motion to the plenary session on Thursday, and to put it to the vote on Friday or Saturday. The main opposition had hinted at such a mo

Dec. 4, 2024

Full text of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol agreeing to lift martial law

Below is a full, unofficial translation of President Yoon Suk Yeol's statement issued on Wednesday, announcing that the declaration of emergency martial law is lifted. Last night at 11 p.m., I declared a state of emergency martial law with a determined will to save the nation, in response to anti-state forces that were paralyzing the essential functions of the state and undermining the liberal democratic constitutional order. However, just a moment ago, the National Assembly requested t

Dec. 4, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol declares end to martial law after six-hour chaos

President Yoon Suk Yeol conceded Wednesday morning to the National Assembly's request to lift the martial law, as he pledged he would preside over the Cabinet meeting immediately, admitting his surprise declaration of martial law was short-lived. "I will immediately accept the National Assembly's request and lift the martial law through the Cabinet," Yoon said in a televised address to the nation at around 4:20 a.m. "I convened the Cabinet immediately, but the quorum has not yet b

Dec. 4, 2024

What unfolded on Tuesday night in Seoul: A timeline

President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law at 10:23 p.m.; shortly after 1 a.m., parliament voted to lift it. South Korea witnessed one of its most dramatic political events in recent years from late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning, when President Yoon Suk Yeol suddenly declared emergency martial law, citing "anti-state forces plotting rebellion." The crisis lasted over six hours, with the first 157 minutes being the most tense, as lawmakers gathered at the National Assembl

Dec. 4, 2024

Citizens call for Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment after martial law revoked

After the opposition-led National Assembly voted to demand the revocation of martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol late Tuesday, airborne troops withdrew from the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, early Wednesday, amidst applause and growing calls from citizens demanding the president’s impeachment. The martial law declaration, made at 10:30 p.m., sparked immediate public outrage, with hundreds of people assembling at the National Assembly and demanding its repeal. At

Dec. 4, 2024

Assembly speaker declares martial law as invalid

The opposition-led National Assembly's vote to revoke President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law has effectively lifted the declaration, Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said Wednesday. Woo chaired an Assembly plenary session that convened around 1 a.m. on Wednesday. The motion was passed after 190 members of the 300-member Assembly who were present at the session voted in favor of it. Of the 190 members, 172 were opposition lawmakers, while 18 were members of the ruling People Power Part

Dec. 4, 2024

Legal experts: Martial law 'clearly illegal,' violent enforcement punishable

Multiple legal experts characterized President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law as "clearly illegal" and "without justification" on social media posts and in conversation with The Korea Herald. The experts spoke on condition of anonymity due to the delicate nature of the situation. Legal scholars drew parallels to former President Chun Doo-hwan's nationwide martial law declaration on May 17, 1980, which led to the Gwangju Democratic Uprising and the milita

Dec. 4, 2024

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung calls martial law declaration 'unconstitutional'

Main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung issued a stern warning to those who comply with the President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law orders. Lee harshly criticized President Yoon’s decision to declare martial law, calling it “illegal and unconstitutional, with no practical prerequisites to justify such an extreme measure.” He further addressed the military and police, stating, “From this moment on, the president’s orders stemming from the illegal martial law declarat

Dec. 4, 2024

Presidential office press corps forced to leave

The presidential office press corps faced an eviction order from its building in Seoul, according to Park An-su, who led the headquarters of the Martial Law Command. The order came into effect as of 12:45 a.m. Wednesday. This was the latest result of President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on Tuesday, which the opposition-controlled National Assembly claimed had a procedural fault and was deemed invalid.

Dec. 4, 2024

Cho Kuk says declaration of martial law 'illegal,' meets conditions for impeachment

Cho Kuk, leader of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, said early Wednesday that he believed President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law was "illegal," adding that it goes against the law and is a move that warrants the president's removal from office. "If President Yoon Suk Yeol does not comply with the National Assembly's resolution (to lift the emergency martial law), that would be considered both illegal and a criminal act," Rep. Cho told

Dec. 4, 2024

[From the Scene] Rush to get to National Assembly in first hours of martial law

In the hours after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared in South Korea at around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, chaos ensued west of Yeouido in central Seoul as lawmakers, aides and reporters rushed to get to the National Assembly. Soon after Yoon announced he would impose martial law, police squads began surrounding the gates of the legislature. At this point, people could enter at checkpoints if they presented their passes. Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kim Byung-kee, running up flights of stairs, could be

Dec. 4, 2024

Martial law forces withdraw from parliament after nullification vote

Forces have completely withdrawn from South Korea's National Assembly building, the Speaker's office confirmed to local media early Wednesday morning. The withdrawal came shortly after the National Assembly voted unanimously to nullify President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, with all 190 lawmakers present voting in favor at 1:01 a.m. Wednesday. Earlier footage showed soldiers breaking windows to enter the main parliamentary floor. Forces were positioned at the main e

Dec. 4, 2024