On the evening of Tuesday, December 3, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked his country and the world by declaring martial law. In a televised address, he declared that the Democratic Party, which holds a majority of seats in the National Assembly, was conducting “anti-state activities,” collaborating with “North Korean communists,” and instituting a “legislative dictatorship.” Yoon announced a ban on political meetings, including meetings of the National Assembly; suspended press freedom; and reportedly ordered the arrest of a range of politicians, including some in his own People Power Party. The announcement was immediately met with protests. In the early morning of December 4, 190 members of the National Assembly rushed to meet, defying the ban, and unanimously passed a resolution lifting martial law, in accordance with the South Korean Constitution. Three hours later, President Yoon complied with the Assembly, lifting martial law. This did not end the crisis. What followed was an escalation of protest demands for Yoon’s impeachment; partisan jockeying over the impeachment; and the eventual impeachment of Yoon by the National Assembly on December 14, in a vote of 204-85. According to the South Korean Constitution, it is now in the hands of the Constitutional Court to decide, within the next six months, whether to affirm the impeachment. The impeached Yoon refuses to cooperate with efforts to investigate his unconstitutional declaration. Protests continue. As prescribed by law, Han Duck-Soo, the Yoon-appointed Prime Minister and People Power ally, was named as Acting President. But a cloud of suspicion hung over his head, and on December 26 he too was impeached, on a 192-0 vote, with every People Power member of the National Assembly abstaining in protest. The situation remains in flux.
At Indiana University, Bloomington, four South Korean students quickly came together after martial law was declared, to voice their concerns and express their solidarity with fellow citizens in South Korea who are acting in defense of democracy. Their activity was prompted by a “Declaration of the State of Affairs” written by Daeun Kim. Shortly thereafter, Kim was joined by Sarang Kim, Hyunjik Jeong, and Naewon Lee. Together they circulated the statement as an open letter and organized a public meeting that was held on December 13. I attended the meeting, and was so impressed by the statements, the conversation, and the overall effort, that I invited the students to share their texts with Democracy Seminar. What follows is the original Daeun Kim Statement and a subsequent reflection; the brief speeches given on December 13 by Sarang Kim and Hyunjik Jeong; and a reflection on the initiative by Naewon Lee. I am sure that many similar efforts on campuses across the world are worthy of similar attention. I am also sure that the effort here in Bloomington has been exemplary. In these dark times, every source of hopefulness deserves attention, and celebration.
–Jeffrey C. Isaac
December 27, 2024
Jeffrey C. Isaac is the James H. Rudy Professor of Political Science at Indiana University, Bloomington.
Read all symposium contributions here.