[Reporter’s Notebook] The ‘December 3 Martial Law Incident’ Seen from the May 18 Democracy Square

Bohyun Song Honam Coverage Bureau Reporter

"Civil servants are servants of the entire nation and are responsible to the people."

On the evening of the 18th, at the rally in front of Gwangju 5.18 Democracy Square. Taking the stage and introducing himself as a public servant, he cited Article 7, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea and quietly asked President Yoon Suk-yeol, "Are you taking responsibility for the people?" A brief silence followed. Soon, applause and cheers erupted from the attendees. As I wrote down the scene in my notebook, I reflected on the past ten days.

I recorded every moment from President Yoon's '12.3 Martial Law Incident' to the passage of the impeachment bill. I captured the voices of everyone from a young third-year middle school student, office workers, housewives, university students, teachers, self-employed people, civic activists, politicians, religious figures, to a 79-year-old elder.

Mr. Park, who said he was part of the student movement in college, held a cheering stick labeled "Impeachment" instead of a flower vase (a slang term for Molotov cocktail) in one hand. Having spent several sleepless nights after hearing the news of martial law, Mr. Park said, "I came to the rally with a heavy heart, but the bright atmosphere was reminiscent of a concert, unlike the past," and added, "I found hope again in my despair."

Mr. Kim, who runs a restaurant serving Baekban, revealed that he was a student hiding under a cotton blanket in May 1980. He confessed, "Those who went through those times must have trembled just like I did when they saw the word 'martial law'," and added, "Now, there is a new fear for my livelihood that I didn't have as a child."

Though each person began their story differently, the conversations ended in a similar way. All of them asked President Yoon in unison, "Are you not afraid of the people's judgment?" In response, President Yoon gave incomprehensible answers. In his statement, he said, "The declaration of martial law was a highly advanced 'act of governance'," "Whether it is impeachment or investigation, I will face it with confidence," "I will fight to the end," and "I will never give up."

That was not all. While most constitutional scholars pointed out the unconstitutionality and illegality of the martial law, President Yoon declared that he would confidently present his case in court. Seok Donghyun, a lawyer who is a classmate from Seoul National University Law School and a friend of President Yoon for 40 years, argued, "The 12.3 martial law was not to destroy the constitutional order, but to protect and restore it," and claimed, "It is closer to a 'disturbance' than a 'rebellion'." He also questioned, "If it were a rebellion, could the economy have recovered this much?"

Citizens who had briefly relaxed after the impeachment bill passed shook their heads as they watched the current situation unfold. Their daily lives still not restored, they braved the cold after work and headed to the 5.18 Democracy Square. Holding cheering sticks to pressure the Constitutional Court, they shouted, "Immediately dismiss and arrest Yoon Suk-yeol, the ringleader of the rebellion." Quietly observing them, I wrote in my notebook, "Even in grim reality, they do not give up optimism for the future." At the same time, I asked the familiar question: "Who is infringing on the people's freedom and undermining democracy?"