# South Korea Declares Martial Law **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 3, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111 "2024-12-03T14:09:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/1 "2024-12-03T14:09:30Z")
What the hell? > **[South Korean president declares emergency martial law, accusing opposition of...](https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-yoon-martial-law-997c22ac93f6a9bece68454597e577c1)** > > South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared an “emergency martial law," accusing the country's opposition of controlling the parliament and paralyzing the government with anti-state activities. I’m a pretty well informed person, I read The Economist and the BBC on a daily basis. And while I’m aware that South Korea has some issues, like a real problem with gender equality and a plummeting birth rate, I certainly haven’t been hearing about anything that would remotely warrant martial law. Does anyone have any insight into this? Is it as frightening as it sounds? It’s so new that the only news available is what I posted- no real details on what’s going on and what it means… ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/2 "2024-12-03T14:51:08Z")
The BBC have it as breaking news on their app/website. There’s some background about how unpopular the President and his wife have been. Military have taken over the parliament building and not allowing anyone in. > **[South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol declares emergency martial law - live...](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn38321180et)** > > In a surprise late night television address he says the move was necessary to protect the country from North Korea's communist forces. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/3 "2024-12-03T14:53:21Z")
I’m so glad we live in such an age of global peace and stability. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/4 "2024-12-03T15:25:27Z")
> [@JacobSwan](#): > > Military have taken over the parliament building and not allowing anyone in. From the [Constitution:](https://elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/lawView.do?lang=ENG&hseq=1) > [@](#): > > When the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law with the concurrent vote of a majority of the total members of the National Assembly, the President shall comply Since the opposition has a clear assembly majority, it would seem impossible for this to stand legally. So not allowing them in the parliament building sounds very bad. I think the term for this is: Constitutional Coup. I do not know much about South Korea, but, in general, the ultimate guardian, or destroyer, of democracy is a nation’s military. So far they seem to be on the side of the president. ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/5 "2024-12-03T15:30:49Z")
So the presidents wife accepted a gift of a handbag and that ultimately led to this? A handbag? Oscar Wilde will be turning in his grave. The constitution says one thing but the barrel of a gun seems to say the opposite right now. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/6 "2024-12-03T15:34:00Z")
Where the hell did THAT come from? > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I do not know much about South Korea, but, in general, the ultimate guardian, or destroyer, of democracy is a nation’s military. So far they seem to be on the side of the president. Isn’t the military there mainly made of draftees? Armies like that that usually don’t go for the political stuff - draftees are often very reluctant to shoot their own people. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/7 "2024-12-03T15:54:31Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > I’m so glad we live in such an age of global peace and stability. Or as Francis Fukuyama would say, “… the end of history as such … That is, the end point of mankind’s ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/8 "2024-12-03T16:10:21Z")
The lawmakers have voted to block the martial law decree: Live updates (CNN): > **[South Korean president declares martial law: Live updates | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/martial-law-south-korea-intl/index.html)** > > South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday declared martial law in a surprise late-night address. Follow for live news updates. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/9 "2024-12-03T16:15:47Z")
Looks like a classic Alberto Fujimori style “Autogolpe” ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/10 "2024-12-03T16:20:13Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Armies like that that usually don’t go for the political stuff - draftees are often very reluctant to shoot their own people. They may not have been told anything. Officer shows up, says, “Get in the truck, we’re deploying for a mission!” By the time they realize they’re at Parliament, it’s too late, so just follow orders. At some point, they’ll clue in that this isn’t a normal deployment, and will have to make a choice, but there’s no saying how long that will take. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/11 "2024-12-03T16:23:01Z")
For South Korea, martial law also brings all kinds of negative connotations from the 1950s-1980s era. The president must have known what bad tones/vibes the term would bring, yet invoked it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/12 "2024-12-03T16:23:56Z")
You think soldiers don’t have smartphones? They know what’s going on. They have social media. They’ve spoken with their families, who have their own strong feelings about things. The next few hours are going to be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/13 "2024-12-03T16:35:31Z")
Wikipedia page on it; the general in command has issued a pretty chilling order: > [@](#): > > Martial Law Command proclaims the following as of 11 p.m. on December 3, 2024, in order to protect liberal democracy from anti-state forces active within the free Republic of Korea and their threats to subvert the state, and to ensure public safety. > > 1. All political activities, including activities of the National Assembly, local councils, political parties, and political association, rallies and demonstrations, are prohibited. > > 2. All acts that deny or attempt to overthrow the free democratic system are prohibited. The dissemination of fake news, manipulation of public opinion, and false propaganda are prohibited. > > 3. All media and publications are subject to the control of Martial Law Command. > > 4. Strikes, work stoppages and rallies that incite social chaos are prohibited. > > 5. Trainee doctors and all other medical personnel, who are on strike or have left their worksites, must return to their positions within 48 hours and work faithfully. Those who violate the order will face punishment in accordance with the Martial Law Act. > > 6. Innocent ordinary citizens, excluding anti-state forces and other subversive forces, will be subject to measures to minimize inconvenience in their daily lives. > > Violators of the proclamation may be arrested, detained and searched without a warrant in accordance with Article 9 of the Martial Law Act (Special Measures Authority of the Martial Law Commander), and will be punished in accordance with Article 14 of the Martial Law Act (Penalties). > > — Martial Law Commander, Army General Park An-su > **[2024 South Korean martial law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_South_Korean_martial_law)** > > Martial law was declared by South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol on 3 December 2024 during a late night address broadcast live on YTN television. In it, he accused the country's main opposition Democratic Party of sympathizing with North Korea and conducting "anti-state activities". The National Assembly passed a motion several hours after Yoon's speech nullifying the declaration of martial law. > Yoon Suk Yeol, a member of the conservative People Power Party and former Prosecutor General of So... ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/14 "2024-12-03T16:35:52Z")
I hope @Monty is okay. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/15 "2024-12-03T16:46:47Z")
The army won’t be shooting at anyone unless there are civilian protests. Under the stated conditions of martial law, this would almost certainly have to be spontaneous. So it’s as much up to the person on the street as it is up to the military (my opinion, of course). I hope President Biden is on the phone telling that idiot to call this off. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/16 "2024-12-03T18:03:12Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I hope President Biden is on the phone telling that idiot to call this off. Lame duck. > [@Alessan](#): > > You think soldiers don’t have smartphones? They know what’s going on. They have social media. They’ve spoken with their families, who have their own strong feelings about things. The next few hours are going to be interesting. True. I’m seeing comments elsewhere that the military has said they are waiting for the president’s word, but haven’t seen the actual source of that info. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/17 "2024-12-03T18:12:06Z")
Soldiers are drilled and conditioned to obedience, including shooting anyone their officers tell them to shoot. This is more or less exactly why the USA originally had next to no standing army and enacted the Second Amendment, so we wouldn’t go through this Cromwell stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/18 "2024-12-03T18:27:41Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > > > I hope President Biden is on the phone telling that idiot to call this off. > > Lame duck. And I am sure the president elect and his team are taking good note of how this is done and what happens next. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/19 "2024-12-03T18:34:19Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Soldiers are drilled and conditioned to obedience, including shooting anyone their officers tell them to shoot. Yeah… speaking as a former soldier, I can tell you that that’s pretty much bullshit. Also, in the current scenario President Yoon is Charles I. Cromwell commanded the _parliamentarian_ forces. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111/20 "2024-12-03T18:35:10Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Or as Francis Fukuyama would say, “… the end of history as such … That is, the end point of mankind’s ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.” > > Stranger I do sometimes wonder if we’re embarking on one of those times in history where the whole world goes through a massive upheaval. Everything just seems to be realigning very quickly. If, 20 years ago, I told you overwhelming numbers of union members would be voting for an overtly anti-union person and party, what would you have said? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-korea-declares-martial-law/1011111.md?page=2)