[Opinion] The People's Patience Has Passed the Breaking Point

It was six hours of utter chaos. No one expected the long-defunct 'martial law' to become a reality. The shock was immense, and so was the anger. The public spent the night anxiously as the situation unfolded in an incomprehensible way. The entry of martial law troops into the National Assembly felt like watching an old movie rather than a real event. The clock hands turned backward?far, far backward. The people asked: Why on earth?

President Yoon Seok-yeol's statement declaring martial law was filled with 'old-fashioned words.' The beginning cited the Democratic Party's attempt to impeach the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection and the unilateral passage of next year's budget as justifications, but the emphasis seemed to lie in the latter part. Phrases like 'anti-state acts plotting rebellion,' 'overthrow of the liberal democratic system,' 'eradication of pro-North anti-state forces at once,' 'the root of all evil anti-state forces,' and 'anti-state forces aiming to overthrow the system' were used repeatedly. Even in the statement lifting martial law, it was said, "Martial law was declared with a resolute patriotic will against anti-state forces attempting to collapse the liberal democratic constitutional order." The context is the same.

What is the root of this perception that views the opposition party as 'anti-state forces' and 'system-overthrowing forces'? The exact reason why the president holds such views is unclear. However, it appears that this biased and erroneous perception of the president led to the emergency situation of 'martial law.' Otherwise, how could he have thought of mobilizing the military?

The fortunate aspect was the mature response of the military and police. Although there were physical clashes with citizens and some damage to property during the entry into and defense of the National Assembly main building, nothing decisive occurred. The civic consciousness was also remarkable. Citizens gathered in front of the National Assembly could have climbed over fences or physically broken barricades to enter, but they did not. They maintained their positions and order until the situation was resolved.

This incident is like President Yoon carrying a bundle of firewood and jumping into the flames. Looking back, although the degree differs, this is not the first time. The case of appointing former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, a key suspect in the investigation pressure allegations related to the death of a Marine in March, as ambassador to Australia comes to mind. At that time, there was strong criticism inside and outside the political sphere about why the former minister was appointed ambassador during a sensitive period before the parliamentary elections. It was not filtered at all within the presidential office, just like this time. These two cases show that the president's arbitrariness and arrogance have gone too far. The difference is that this time it is somewhat more dramatic.

The political situation has become completely different from yesterday. It is now uncertain whether President Yoon will be able to complete the remaining two and a half years of his term properly. The public's faint hope in the president has vanished. Patience has passed its limit. The president's protective shield is gone. There is nowhere to turn. The ruling party, the People Power Party, has started distancing itself from the president. The atmosphere in the prosecution and military is bound to change. A political situation where change is inevitable has emerged. Unless the opposition party's call for resignation is met, impeachment is gaining momentum. Although it is an unfortunate event in constitutional history, change has already begun to roll forward. There are still hurdles to overcome before it becomes a reality. However, the possibility has greatly increased. It is time to reflect.