Cover Story: South Korean President’s Attempt at Martial Law May Hasten His Exit (AI Translation)
Listen to the full version
文｜财新周刊 王自励、路尘、胡暄 发自北京 曾佳 发自美国首都华盛顿 陈立雄 发自日本东京
By Caixin Weekly's Wang Zili, Lu Chen, Hu Xuan reporting from Beijing, Zeng Jia reporting from Washington D.C., USA, Chen Lixiong reporting from Tokyo, Japan.
文｜财新周刊 王自励、路尘、胡暄 发自北京 曾佳 发自美国首都华盛顿 陈立雄 发自日本东京
By Wang Zili, Lu Chen, Hu Xuan in Beijing, Zeng Jia in Washington, D.C., Chen Lixiong in Tokyo, for Caixin Weekly
漆黑的夜里，多架军用直升机在首尔的大厦间盘旋轰鸣，最终降落在位于汝矣岛的国会议事堂一旁的草坪上。身着迷彩作战服、头戴夜视仪的特种部队成员从中鱼贯而出，并迅速包围了国会。在大楼门口，来此集会的民众高喊口号，与士兵们发生对峙和推搡，场面一度剑拔弩张。严阵以待的国会工作人员用椅子和桌子堵住门，手持泡沫灭火器，试图阻挡砸窗闯入国会内部的士兵。
In the pitch-black night, multiple military helicopters roared as they hovered between the buildings in Seoul, finally landing on the lawn beside the National Assembly building on Yeouido. Members of special forces, dressed in camouflage combat uniforms and wearing night vision goggles, disembarked in single file, quickly surrounding the parliament. At the building's entrance, citizens gathered there shouted slogans, confronting and jostling with the soldiers in a tense standoff. The parliament staff, on high alert, blocked the door with chairs and tables, holding foam fire extinguishers in an attempt to prevent the soldiers from breaking the windows and storming inside.
这些画面，让人不禁联想起2023年11月在韩国热映的电影《首尔之春》，其中展现了1979年12月12日，以时任韩军保安司令官全斗焕为首的韩国“新军部”势力，在戒严期间策动军事政变，进而夺取最高权力的历史。但就在这场“双十二政变”流血事件发生45周年之际，韩国民众对于军政府威权统治的伤痛记忆，以令人意想不到的方式再一次被唤醒。
These scenes inevitably bring to mind the film "Seoul Spring," which was a hit in South Korea in November 2023. The movie depicts the historic events of December 12, 1979, when then-commander of the South Korean Army Security Command, Chun Doo-hwan, and the "New Military" forces orchestrated a coup during martial law to seize supreme power. However, just as the 45th anniversary of this bloody "December Twelfth Coup" unfolded, the painful memories of military authoritarian rule among the South Korean populace have been unexpectedly stirred once more.
- DIGEST HUB
Digest Hub
Back
- South Korea faced a political crisis when President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on December 3, 2024, lasting only six hours before the National Assembly overturned it.
- The incident led to public outcry and mass protests, with opposition parties initiating impeachment proceedings against the president, accusing him of overstepping constitutional bounds.
- The crisis rekindled memories of past military rule and underscored domestic political tensions, raising concerns about possible economic and diplomatic impacts on South Korea.
[para. 1][para. 2][para. 3] South Korea faced a political crisis when on December 3, 2024, President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a "state of emergency" and martial law, sparking mass protests and political backlash. The move was reminiscent of the "December Twelfth Coup" in 1979 led by Chun Doo-hwan during a period of martial law. The declaration was met with bipartisan condemnation, swiftly overturned by the National Assembly, and spurred immediate impeachment efforts against Yoon as citizens took to the streets in protest.
[para. 4][para. 5] The unprecedented late-night decision shocked citizens, political figures, and scholars alike. Martial law, associated with Cold War-era authoritarianism, had not been invoked in nearly 40 years. Yoon's actions, perceived as overreach to counter parliamentary opposition, stirred outrage and left him politically isolated. Despite avoiding casualties and refraining from arrests, Yoon's invocation of martial law to address what he claimed were obstructions in government revealed significant political miscalculations.
[para. 6][para. 7][para. 8] Major South Korean newspapers across the political spectrum condemned Yoon's actions, describing them as a severe overstep and disgraceful for a country considered a model of democratization. The political fallout saw rapid resignations among Yoon's senior aides and a call for his impeachment from six opposition parties, with a focus on weakening his administration.
[para. 9][para. 10][para. 11] Yoon's martial law declaration emphasized rooting out "pro-North forces" and was purportedly aimed at protecting constitutional governance. Critics argue that it bypassed typical emergency protocols and ignored military officials until after the announcement. The implementation resulted in martial law troops surrounding the National Assembly, leading to a standoff with thousands of protestors. Despite initial attempts to enter forcibly, troops refrained from using live ammunition, instead retreating after the parliamentary resolution to lift the martial law was passed.
[para. 12][para. 13] The martial law incitement comes amidst ongoing political turmoil under Yoon's leadership, characterized by aggressive investigations into opposition figures, controversies involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee, and allegations of biased prosecutorial actions. Yoon's tenure, marked by strained relations between ruling and opposition parties, has sparked deep political polarization and an impasse in policy governance.
[para. 14][para. 15] South Korea's political landscape remains volatile as the impeachment motion against Yoon is set for a vote, underscoring an extended period of instability. Yoon's administration faces challenges in rallying support within its party, exacerbated by rifts with party leaders like Han Dong-hoon, who has aligned with opposition calls for accountability amid fears of another martial law attempt.
[para. 16][para. 17] As South Korea navigates internal conflicts alongside regional security threats and economic challenges, the impeachment saga reflects deeper democratic tension amplified by polarized political dynamics, where ideological battles overshadow coherent governance. With impeachment proceedings looming, South Korea witnesses an existential test of its democratic framework.
- BMW
宝马汽车 - The article mentions that Kim Keon-hee, the first lady of South Korea, was implicated in a stock manipulation scandal involving the South Korean dealer of BMW, Deutsch Motors. However, after a three-month investigation, the South Korean prosecution decided not to prosecute her, concluding that she had no criminal involvement in manipulating stock prices or receiving a luxury handbag.
- Deutsch Motors
德意志汽车 - Deutsch Motors is the South Korean BMW car dealer connected to allegations against Kim Keon-hee, the spouse of President Yoon Suk-yeol. Kim was accused of being involved in manipulating Deutsch Motors' stock prices between 2009 and 2012. After a three-month investigation, South Korean prosecutors determined Kim had no criminal involvement with the stock manipulation allegations and decided not to pursue charges against her.
- Yonhap News Agency
韩联社 - Yonhap News Agency is mentioned in the context of a historical reference to a secret martial law plan during former South Korean President Park Geun-hye's administration. The plan included deploying military forces and placing news organizations, including Yonhap, under martial law control to censor information during times of political unrest. This highlights Yonhap's prominent role as a major news agency in South Korea.
- YTN
YTN电视台 - YTN is a Korean media outlet involved in covering events such as the military intervention at the National Assembly during the emergency martial law declaration in South Korea. A former anchor at YTN, An Gwi-ryeong, was reportedly involved in protests against the martial law by confronting armed soldiers to prevent them from entering the National Assembly.
- Korean Broadcasting System
KBS - The article mentions Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) as one of the 22 television and radio networks that were to be subjected to news censorship by the military's Martial Law Command under the secret martial law plan devised during former President Park Geun-hye's administration. This plan aimed to suppress public dissent and control media coverage amid government controversies.
- JoongAng Ilbo
中央日报 - JoongAng Ilbo is a South Korean newspaper mentioned in the article. It reported that during the emergency declaration, the soldiers dispatched to the National Assembly exceeded 280 and were members of Korea's 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade, the 707th Special Mission Group, and the Capital Defense Command. The paper is generally considered to have a conservative stance, close to the ruling party.
- Chosun Ilbo
朝鲜日报 - Chosun Ilbo is a South Korean newspaper with a conservative stance. In the context of the article, it criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol's actions during the emergency martial law declaration, stating that even if the opposition party attempts to usurp administrative power, Yoon's actions were a severe overstep, which is considered a disgrace for a nation that prides itself on its democratic achievements.
- The Hankyoreh
韩民族日报 - The Hankyoreh, leaning towards a progressive stance, criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol and his aides for having a "severe misconception and fear" concerning political pressure from the opposition. It also accused them of losing essential judgment and rationality expected from a national leader.
- November 2023：
- The film 'Seoul Spring', depicting events of the 1979 coup, was released in South Korea.
- PODCAST
- MOST POPULAR
Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook
Sign in with 财新