Seoul National University, Korea University, and Others Also Issue Statements
As critical voices against President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law spread, the Yonsei University Student Council also issued a statement condemning the martial law.
At around 9:40 p.m. on the 4th, the Yonsei University Student Council stated in their declaration, "President Yoon declared martial law without meeting any of the necessary conditions," adding, "This is an unconstitutional outrage and an absolutely unacceptable measure."
They continued, "The most intolerable act in a democratic society is to threaten community members by employing any form of violence," emphasizing, "The president, who bears the gravest responsibility to protect the people's freedom and rights, not only failed to govern through dialogue, debate, and mutual respect but also mobilized the military, which should protect the people, to brandish guns and flaunt his power, creating a climate of fear."
Regarding the martial law being halted by the National Assembly in about three hours, they said, "This incident confirmed that even if some authorities make wrong decisions, mature citizens have the power to stop them and uphold the values of democracy."
The Sogang University Student Council also issued a statement around 9:30 p.m., asserting, "The president must stop the autocracy and arrogance of power and take full responsibility for declaring martial law," and claimed, "It is absolutely unacceptable that the president not only failed to notify the National Assembly of the martial law declaration but also labeled the National Assembly, which represents the people's will, as anti-state forces and attempted to block the Assembly by mobilizing martial law troops."
Since the presidential declaration and lifting of martial law on the afternoon of the 3rd, voices condemning it have been continuously raised on university campuses. Professors, researchers, and graduate students at Korea University also issued an urgent political declaration condemning the martial law at Korea University’s Anam Campus in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on the same day.
The Seoul National University Student Council also released a statement condemning Yoon Suk-yeol’s actions, saying, "We condemn Yoon Suk-yeol’s act that mercilessly trampled on the 4.19 democratic ideals of resistance against injustice."
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