In a sudden and shocking address on December 3, 2024, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in South Korea for the first time since 1979. The late-night announcement shocked the global media, angered the public and prompted an emergency meeting of South Korea’s Parliament. Lawmakers unanimously voted to nullify the martial law declaration, and it was officially revoked just six hours after it was declared.

President Yoon’s decision came on the heels of an already tense political environment, with calls from the opposition for his impeachment. Memories of previous martial law orders under authoritarian leadership are still present for many Koreans, leading many to wonder how this will affect South Korea’s democracy and international standing. To help explain why this declaration was made, its historical importance, and the potential future implications, we asked SIS professor Ji-Young Lee some questions.

Why was South Korea under martial law and what led up to that declaration being made so suddenly?

People are really baffled as to why the president suddenly declared martial law. It was unexpected, and there is no visible reason that the public can understand for such a drastic move. Among the reasons cited by the president were to protect the country from forces within South Korea that sympathize with North Korea and from the opposition party that is trying to control the country’s governance. As contentious as these things are, they are a matter of politics. So people are very, very puzzled as to why he would resort to such an extreme measure to address these situations.

What was the public response to this declaration?

The president’s unscheduled televised announcement declaring martial law left people in shock, myself included. The public reaction was overwhelmingly negative. It was not something that people expected or that people understood the reasoning behind, which fueled anxiety and a sense of resentment towards the move.

How did the rest of the government and the parliament react, and what sort of process did they have to enact to force the president to revoke martial law?

South Korean lawmakers can lift the imposition of martial law by a majority vote. Soon after the president’s announcement, lawmakers rushed to the National Assembly, and all 190 lawmakers voted unanimously in favor of lifting martial law. Political leaders, including members of the president's own party, did not think that declaring martial law was acceptable.

Following the revocation of martial law, what could potentially happen to the president?

The discussion of impeachment preceded the president’s declaration of martial law with the opposition party raising the issue for some time. Prior to the announcement, criticism of the president has been mounting within South Korea, largely driven by scandals. Now, with martial law declared, impeachment discussions have intensified. Calls for his resignation have grown louder. As of this writing, his political future is highly uncertain.

Has South Korea ever experienced something like this before?

Martial law, introduced in 1948, was last imposed in 1979 before the democratization of South Korea. Many South Koreans remember the days when authoritarian leaders used martial law as a means of suppressing opposition, which explains the strong reactions to the declaration of martial law; Martial law in South Korea evokes memories of its use by authoritarian leaders. Overcoming that history and democratizing the country is a source of immense pride for South Koreans, which makes the president’s decision to declare martial law particularly troubling. It prompted many to ask, “Uh, is this the 1970s before democratization?” The move is widely seen as a setback for democracy—a system of government that South Koreans take great pride in—having achieved it through years of grassroots struggle.

What are some of the short and long-term implications for South Korea’s democracy and their global relationships?

We will have to wait and see what happens to the president’s political future. Any impeachment discussions, processes, and calls for his resignation will be very contentious.

In terms of its implications for business, this creates a great deal of uncertainty regarding the stability that investors need to plan and continue their operations in the country. This is particularly concerning, given the abrupt manner in which martial law was declared, without prior warning or communication.

The US-South Korea alliance was thriving with President Yoon and President Biden sharing many overlapping interests in terms of values and policies. The US-Japan-South Korea trilateral cooperation is one of the highlights of the Biden administration's Asia policy and a notable success story for South Korea’s rising position in global politics. However, President Yoon’s recent decision has raised many questions, especially with a new US administration soon to take office. While I don't believe the alliance with the US will be fundamentally shaken, this situation adds another layer of anxiety.

As for South Korea-Japan relations, President Yoon has played a key role in improving relations with Tokyo. Depending on what happens with him and his political future, this may have a negative impact on relations between Seoul and Tokyo. Liberal politicians in South Korea are unlikely to support the rapprochement of bilateral relations without addressing historical issues.