Kang Kyung-hwa: "Yoon Completely Out of Touch with Country's Reality" ... BBC Interview

"The Situation Created by the President"
"The Way Out of the Situation Also Depends on the President"

President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law but lifted it after six hours, prompting former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha to criticize the move as "completely detached from the reality the country is currently facing."

According to BBC on the 4th (local time), Kang made these remarks in an interview with the broadcaster regarding the recent martial law incident. Kang pointed out that "President Yoon was losing popularity due to the way he handled issues arising from his own actions and those of the First Lady," and claimed that the opposition party had been exaggerating the issue in the National Assembly.

Former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. Photo by Yonhap News

He also argued, "It is up to the president himself to find a way out of this situation he created." Regarding the series of events surrounding President Yoon's declaration and lifting of martial law, Kang said, "The National Assembly fulfilling its role and citizens taking to the streets to demand the withdrawal demonstrated the strength and resilience of our country's democracy."

Kang served as Foreign Minister under the Moon Jae-in administration from June 2017 to February 2021 and currently serves as the chairperson of the Asia Society, a U.S. think tank.

Meanwhile, President Yoon declared martial law in a national address around 10:29 p.m. on the 3rd but lifted it after about six hours.

With the declaration of martial law, a proclamation from the Martial Law Command was issued, and South Korea entered a martial law system starting at 11 p.m. on the 3rd. However, at 1 a.m. on the 4th, a motion to lift martial law was submitted to the plenary session and passed unanimously with all 190 attending lawmakers voting in favor. Consequently, the martial law troops deployed to the National Assembly also withdrew.

President Yoon stated, "At 11 p.m. last night, I declared martial law with a resolute will to save the nation against anti-state forces attempting to paralyze the essential functions of the state and collapse the liberal democratic constitutional order," adding, "However, due to the National Assembly's demand to lift martial law, the troops deployed for martial law duties were withdrawn."