"It Must End Now"... Ongoing Crisis After Yoon's Emergency Martial Law

Need to Find Exit from Crisis through Impeachment Vote
Fourth Address Further Intensifies Division Patterns

Since the night of the 3rd, the unstable and opaque abnormal situation that began with President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration of martial law has continued. At the time of martial law, there were unprecedented moves to destroy the constitutional order, such as the martial law forces' attempts to forcibly enter the legislature and the National Election Commission, and the arrest of key politicians and legal professionals. Citizens who took to the streets blocked the military and police, and members of the National Assembly climbed over the walls of the National Assembly building, which had been blocked, to enter the plenary session and vote to lift the martial law. From the early days of martial law, opposition parties as well as some ruling party politicians expressed their opposition, the military and police showed passive behavior, and the clumsy response of the forces pushing for martial law combined to bring an end to martial law after 45 years without major incidents.

However, the crisis continues. It was a great shock that in South Korea, which has entered an advanced democratic nation, the president declared martial law citing issues such as the opposition party's impeachment and budget approval, putting the democratic constitutional order at risk. Subsequently, the exchange rate and stock market fluctuated wildly, and the already crisis-hit domestic economy worsened.

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Even after that, the abnormal situation continued with President Yoon, who was named as the ringleader of the rebellion in warrants, exercising military command authority. The opposition immediately called for his resignation, but the president refused. At the National Assembly level, there was an impeachment attempt on the 7th, but it was blocked by members of the ruling People Power Party.

During this period, citizens lost their daily lives. Wherever people gathered, they worried about the country and had to divert their attention to the constantly unfolding news while trying to make a living. Because the support pillar called the ‘state’ that upheld daily life collapsed, people had to tremble with anxiety. On frosty winter nights, citizens came out onto the streets. In various places, they made their own declarations about the state of the nation, expressing concern for the country.

President Yoon’s statement on the 12th, which strongly defended the legitimacy of martial law, worsened the situation. It consolidated the support base that still expressed support for President Yoon and also hindered investigations aimed at revealing the full scope of martial law. After the president’s fourth statement, the country is heading toward further division.

Currently, 199 members of the National Assembly have expressed support for President Yoon’s impeachment. This includes 192 opposition and independent members, plus seven members of the People Power Party?Cho Kyung-tae, Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Sang-wook, Kim Ye-ji, Kim Jae-seop, Jin Jong-oh, and Han Ji-a?who chose conscience and conviction over party lines. However, it is still one vote short, and considering the secret ballot nature where no one but the voter knows the vote, the outcome of the impeachment remains uncertain.

Citizens generally agree that the current chaotic situation must be resolved. They believe that President Yoon, who is considered the main culprit of the rebellion, still holding military command authority, and the country must emerge from the shadow of uncertainty hanging over the Korean economy. Professor Lee Jun-han of Incheon National University’s Department of Political Science predicted, "If the impeachment bill is rejected again on the 14th, the time on the streets will be prolonged."

Moreover, as the president’s statements have intensified national division, the risk of social unrest has increased. It is also affecting the political landscape. The government and ruling party are experiencing internal conflicts, causing confusion, and the conservative camp itself has been engulfed in turmoil.

The way to resolve the situation lies in the impeachment vote. The ruling party must guarantee the political participation of each member of the National Assembly as a constitutional institution so that they can make political choices. That is the path to managing the political situation and preventing national confusion.