Directors of Korean Studies Institutes at Harvard, Stanford, and Others Condemn Yoon's Martial Law Declaration

On the 4th (local time), lead professors of Korean Studies Institutes at prestigious North American universities such as Harvard University and Stanford University condemned President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law.

Yonhap News

In an English statement issued that day, Nicholas Harkness, a professor at Harvard University, along with directors of Korean Studies Institutes from 13 North American universities, stated, "At 10:24 PM on December 3, 2024, President Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea declared martial law, reviving an authoritarian past," and criticized, "President Yoon's declaration of martial law is a direct violation of the constitution and procedural laws."

They argued, "Article 77 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea stipulates that martial law can only be declared 'in times of war or a similar national emergency when necessary for military needs or to maintain public order,'" and "the current political and social situation in the Republic of Korea does not meet the criteria of 'war or a similar national emergency.'" They added, "We strongly condemn President Yoon's declaration of martial law and support the Korean citizens who have risen to defend their rights."

They emphasized, "Korean history has repeatedly demonstrated that any political authority against the will of the people is ultimately doomed to collapse," and "this is a historical lesson that reminds us of the fundamental principles upon which the Republic of Korea was founded." Furthermore, they added, "Ignoring history inevitably comes with a price," and "this is also an important lesson that the Republic of Korea conveys to the world."

The statement included names such as Shin Ki-wook, director of the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University; An Jin-soo, director at UC Berkeley; Lee Nam-hee, director at UCLA; and Ryu Young-joo, director of the Korean Studies Institute at the University of Michigan. Celeste Arrington, director at George Washington University, and Don Baker, director at the University of British Columbia, were also included.