Korea's Dark History of Martial Law

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stunned the country by declaring emergency martial law across the nation last night , moving to replace the government with a military administration.
 
This is the first time in 44 years that martial law has been declared in Korea, and the move came as a complete shock to most observers both in and out of the country , and especially to South Korea’s neighbours in North Asia.  
 
Article 77 of the Korean constitution gives the sitting president the power to declare martial law in response to the threat of war, and other national emergencies.
 
Martial law is is categorised as either emergency martial law and security martial law.
 
In this case the President took the first option, restricting the freedom of speech, publication, assembly and association, and ushering in a raft of special powers that can be enforced by military authorities.
  
Martial law has been declared some 16 times in the country’s history, with the first instance being in August 1948 when the Korean republic was established. The 1950-53 Korean War saw martial law used on a regular basis as the fighting raged across the country.
 
In 1961 a military coup led by General Park Chung-hee brought back martial law, and under  Park's rule (which ended in 1979), martial law became a very common policy tool used to enforce authority and crack down on growing protest and dissent.

Korean President (1961-79) Park Chung-Yee/ photo Korean Govt Archive

The Yushin Constitution of 1972 took martial law to a new level, effectively transforming the Korean Presidency into a dictatorship. Despite this brutal and authoritarian style of government, the country moved ahead significantly in terms of economic growth, leading many Koreans to support the regime.

Park argued that Western-style liberal democracy was not suitable for South Korea because of its still-developing economy. Instead, he argued that "Korean-style democracy" with a strong, unchallenged presidency was the only way to keep the country stable

The assassination of Park Chung-hee in 1979 led to glimmer of real democracy, but that was soon suppressed by yet another coup from another military chief.  

In December 1979, General Chun Doo-hwan staged a coup, again declaring martial law across the nation. Chun’s regime expanded the powers of martial law, banning political activities, closing universities, and censoring the media.

In May 1980 the city of Gwangju protested against Chun’s authoritarian rule, demanding democracy. The government responded with brutal military force under martial law, resulting in the massacre of hundreds, possibly thousands, of civilians. The “Gwangju Uprising” became a symbol of resistance against authoritarianism and remains a cornerstone of South Korea’s democracy movement.

A demonstration in Seoul during the June Uprising in 1987/ photo Wikipedia

The nationwide protests of June 1987, known as the “June Uprising”, pressured Chun Doo-hwan’s government to introduce limited democratic reforms, including direct presidential elections. Events in that crucial year were portrayed in the 2017 Korean movie “ 1987: When the Day Comes”

Since democratisation in the 1980’s, martial law has not been declared – until today.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to justify the surprise move to martial law by appealing to Koreans sense of democracy.

"Last night I declared emergency martial law with my resolute intent to save the nation in the face of anti-state forces that attempt to paralyse the nation's essential function and the constitutional order of free democracy," he said.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol / photo Korean President's office

The deeply unpopular Korean leader now faces the daunting task of explaining his decision making, amid calls for his impeachment.

For many South Koreans the re-emergence of martial law as a political tool by an unpopular President is an uncomfortable reminder of a darker history, and one they will never accept a return to.

 - Asia Media Centre