In this article, Type Media Center fellow E. Tammy Kim reports on South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s controversial martial law declaration on December 3, which sparked widespread protests and condemnation from lawmakers and global actors, and was quickly overturned, intensifying calls for his resignation.
Highlights
- Kim reports the declaration of martial law by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, with which he intended to ban political meetings and strikes and subject media to government approval. Yoon cited legislative obstruction, impeachment efforts, and alleged infiltration by North Korea as reasons for the declaration.
- The article references parallels to South Korea’s 1980 pro-democracy struggles and former President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment.
- Kim notes that nearly two-thirds of the National Assembly voted to overturn the martial law declaration, invoking a constitutional provision. Several hours later, Yoon withdrew the martial law order but warned opponents to cease efforts to impeach his administration.
- The article discusses how Yoon’s presidency has been marked by authoritarian tendencies, targeting political opponents and journalists, and appointing loyalists to key positions, thus influencing protests and calls for his resignation, as well as motions from opposition lawmakers to impeach him.
Type Media Center’s Note
This article by our fellow E. Tammy Kim reflects Type Media Center’s dedication to nurturing independent journalism that not only informs but strives for societal change.