South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announces lifting the "emergency martial law." At the "Blue House" presidential residence in Seoul on the early morning of December 4. (©Yonhap via Kyodo)
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South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law was a colossal mistake. There are now concerns that the hasty move could destabilize the situation in Japan's neighbor.
President Yoon declared a state of emergency on the evening of December 3. He claimed that the progressive Democratic Party, the main opposition party, used its majority in the National Assembly to paralyze national politics and the judiciary.
Both ruling and opposition parties reacted strongly. In the early hours of December 4, the National Assembly passed a resolution calling for the state of emergency to be lifted. In the end, Yoon lifted martial law roughly six hours after it was declared.
Yoon said the imposition of martial law was needed "to protect South Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces." The Martial Law Command subsequently issued a decree banning all political activities to "protect democracy and the nation's people."
Nonetheless, the martial law decree clearly ran counter to freedom and democracy. There was no necessity to issue it. Military government under martial law must be consigned to the past.
A Damaging Mistake
Only recently South Korea had come to be seen as a responsible member of the developed world. The martial law uproar may have damaged that country's image.
The president does have the power to declare martial law. However, it cannot be said that the requirements for doing so were met in this instance. There is a also general feeling that the move lacks legitimacy. For precisely this reason both the opposition parties and the ruling party, and public opinion, have harshly criticized it.
Although the Korean War never officially ended, a ceasefire remains in place. Also, South Korea is not currently at war with North Korea or other nations. In the competition between the Korean Peninsula's two opposing regimes, South Korea enjoys overwhelming advantages. Moreover, it has not faced any major unrest or disasters.
The opposition has bogged down the Yoon administration over allegations against the first lady. There have also been a series of calls for the impeachment of cabinet ministers and other officials. Furthermore, the administration's approval rating with the electorate is abysmal.
The Mandate of Democracy
If Yoon resorted to martial law to break the impasse, his action was too sudden and incomprehensible. Any North Korean spies in the country should have been investigated and apprehended through normal procedures. Unfortunately, Yoon's handling of the situation is at odds with serving as the leader of a democratic country.
Since the Yoon administration took office, Japan, the United States and South Korea have strengthened their mutual security cooperation. This has been necessary to deter the threat from North Korea and protect "peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."
There is now a risk that the turmoil in South Korea will disrupt the solidarity of our three countries and invite provocations from autocratic nations in the region. Hopefully, the Japanese government and the Self-Defense Forces will remain vigilant.
South Korea should put an end to the confusion as soon as possible. The main opposition party submitted a motion to impeach Yoon to the National Assembly. If passed, the Constitutional Court of Korea will decide whether to impeach him. Having lost his moral mandate, Yoon may have to decide whether to step down or not to resolve the situation.
RELATED:
- South Korea: Yoon's Martial Law Declaration No Bolt From the Blue
- EDITORIAL | Japan, South Korea Cooperation a Must Amid Security Threats
- South Korean Martial Law: A Shocking Turn and What Lies Ahead
Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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