Aftermath of Martial Law... Calls for Resignation Pouring in from All Walks of Life

University Professors' Political Declaration Supported by Media, Legal, Religious, Labor, and Civil Society Groups... University Students' Posters Also Displayed

Voices calling for the resignation of President Yoon Suk-yeol are pouring out from all walks of life immediately after the emergency martial law declaration and its subsequent lifting incident.

On the 4th, when President Yoon Suk-yeol declared the lifting of martial law, union members affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and civic group representatives held a press conference at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, announcing a resistance movement to realize national sovereignty and demand President Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

On the 4th, nine media professional organizations, including the Korea Journalists Association, the Broadcast Journalists Union, and the Korea Photojournalists Association (hereinafter referred to as media organizations), held an emergency press conference in front of the Seoul Press Center, stating, "President Yoon's declaration of martial law is a constitutional violation that tramples on the basic rights of the people and freedom of the press by mobilizing the military, as well as a serious crime that should be dealt with as treason and destruction of the constitutional order." They urged President Yoon's immediate resignation and arrest investigation.

Civil society organizations such as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, and the National People's Action also held a 'Nationwide Emergency Action Proclaiming Full Resistance Movement' press conference in front of the Admiral Yi Sun-sin statue in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the same day, arguing that "the emergency martial law declared in a situation that does not correspond to a national emergency is itself unconstitutional, illegal, and invalid."

The legal community also expressed serious concerns. The Korean Bar Association criticized it as an unconstitutional act that destroys liberal democracy and the constitutional order, while the Lawyers for a Democratic Society emphasized that the president, who abuses his authority by branding citizens who criticize him as anti-state forces, should resign voluntarily.

The medical community, which was included in the proclamation order stating 'residents who left the site must return within 48 hours,' also issued a statement. They emphasized that medical personnel who resigned do not fall under the category of striking or leaving the site and pledged to provide normal medical care.

Calls for resignation continued in the religious sector as well. On the same day, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, under the name of its chairman Bishop Lee Yong-hoon, released a statement saying, "The president must come forward directly before the people to explain the series of incidents regarding the declaration and lifting of martial law, sincerely apologize to the people, and take responsibility accordingly." The National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) and the Won-Buddhist Social Reform Clergy Group also emphasized that this martial law declaration is a clear violation of the constitution.

Criticism continued in university communities. The Seoul National University Student Council issued a statement saying, "The declaration of martial law is an act that tramples on the liberal democratic constitutional order of the Republic of Korea," and "We condemn the act that brutally trampled on the 4.19 democratic ideals that resist injustice." The student council will hold a general student meeting at 5 p.m. on the 5th at the Gwanak Campus to gather opinions on the incident. The meeting will be valid if more than one-tenth of enrolled students attend.

More than 370 professors, lecturers, and students at Korea University also issued an emergency declaration on the current situation, calling for the suspension of President Yoon's duties and impeachment. The Sogang University student group ‘Youth Sogang’ posted on an online community, "The people command the president. The president must immediately follow the will of the people. We want a different Republic of Korea."

At Dongguk University, 108 students issued a declaration on the current situation, demanding the resignation of the regime, and Seoul National University of Science and Technology also emphasized in their declaration that President Yoon must be held accountable for the martial law declaration. Sookmyung Women's University and Konkuk University are also expected to issue declarations demanding the resignation of the regime on the 5th.