What's happened
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's unexpected martial law declaration on December 3, 2024, triggered widespread protests and a swift parliamentary response. The decree, aimed at quelling perceived threats from North Korea, was overturned within hours amid accusations of unconstitutional actions and calls for impeachment from opposition parties.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Yoon's martial law declaration was met with immediate backlash, with opposition parties labeling it 'illegal and unconstitutional.' The article highlights the chaotic scenes in parliament as lawmakers resisted military intervention. Business Insider UK reported that Yoon's swift reversal of the decree came after intense public outcry and a parliamentary vote against it, illustrating the fragility of his administration. The U.S. expressed relief at the reversal, emphasizing the foundational role of democracy in its relationship with South Korea, as noted in multiple sources.
How we got here
Yoon's martial law declaration marked the first such action since South Korea's democratization in 1987. It followed a series of controversies during his presidency, including low approval ratings and political scandals. The declaration was justified by Yoon as a response to 'anti-state' forces allegedly linked to North Korea.
More on these topics
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South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea.
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Yoon Seok-youl is a South Korean lawyer and a former Prosecutor General of South Korea. He is a candidate in the 2022 South Korean presidential election and considered an electoral favorite amongst the candidates from the conservative People Power Party,
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North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Martial law is the temporary imposition of direct military control of normal civil functions or suspension of civil law by a government, especially in response to a temporary emergency where civil forces are overwhelmed, or in an occupied territory.