Religious Circles Demand Yoon Seok-yeol Apologize for Martial Law and Take Responsibility... Call for Resignation

Criticism from Catholic Church, NCCK, Methodist Church, Anglican Church, Sungkyunkwan Yudo Association, Won Buddhism, etc.

Religious circles also continued to criticize President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration and subsequent lifting of martial law.

President Yoon Suk-yeol announced in an emergency address at 4:30 a.m. on the 4th that the martial law declared last night will be lifted in response to the National Assembly's request. The photo shows President Yoon's emergency address being broadcast on the TV in the Seoul Station waiting room. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

On the 4th, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea issued a statement in the name of its chairman, Bishop Lee Yong-hoon, saying, "The president must come forward directly before the people to explain the series of events regarding the declaration and lifting of martial law, sincerely apologize to the people, and take responsibility accordingly."

The Bishops' Conference stated, "Many citizens are asking the president whether it was the right decision as the supreme commander to suddenly declare martial law in the middle of the night when there was no visible threat of invasion or war from external enemies."

The National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), in a statement distributed under the name of its general secretary, Pastor Kim Jong-saeng, declared, "The declaration of martial law is unconstitutional," and commented, "President Yoon Suk-yeol should kneel down, apologize, and bear judicial responsibility." The NCCK added, "Fortunately, martial law was lifted within six hours by a parliamentary resolution, but that does not erase President Yoon Suk-yeol's crime of denying the constitution."

The Anglican Church of Korea's House of Bishops, in a statement issued under the names of Metropolitan Bishop Park Dong-shin, Seoul Diocese Bishop Kim Jang-hwan, and Daejeon Diocese Bishop Kim Ho-wook, asserted, "President Yoon Suk-yeol must take responsibility for personally violating the Constitution of the Republic of Korea and the fundamental rights of the people and immediately step down." They added, "The legislative and judicial branches must thoroughly investigate the constitutional violations committed by the president and his close associates who caused this incident and take clear measures."

The Anglican Justice and Peace Priests' Group and the Nanum House Council stated that "all those who ordered, executed, or participated in the martial law declaration must be punished."

The Korean Methodist Church expressed its position early that morning before the lifting of martial law, saying, "It is difficult for the people to accept the declaration of martial law for political reasons," and described it as "an act of betrayal against the people and a dictatorial idea contrary to the spirit of the Constitution."

The Christian Ethics Movement issued a statement saying, "President Yoon must apologize to the people for his illegal actions and promptly resign from the presidency," while the Church Reform Practice Solidarity claimed, "The declaration of martial law is clearly an unconstitutional and illegal act of rebellion."

The Won-Buddhism Social Transformation Clergy Group criticized the martial law declaration as "clearly unconstitutional."

The Sungkyunkwan Confucian Association Headquarters commented, "Do you not know that politics should be conducted with virtue, not punishment or force?" and added, "It is time to step down."