On a Tuesday night that started like any other in Seoul, the world watched a mature democracy suddenly lurch toward the brink of a 1970s-style military takeover. It was December 3, 2024. President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared on television at 10:23 p.m., looking grim and speaking with a desperate intensity that caught the entire planet off guard. When he uttered the words "emergency martial law," it wasn't just a political maneuver; it was a bombshell that sent specialized army units into the streets and helicopters over the National Assembly.
But why did it happen? If you’re asking why did South Korea president declare martial law, you’ve got to look past the official "North Korean threat" script. Honestly, the real story is a messy mix of political gridlock, personal legal drama, and a president who felt cornered by his own legislature.
The Official Line: "Anti-State Forces" and North Korea
In his televised address, Yoon didn't hold back. He claimed he was protecting the country from "North Korean communist forces" and "anti-state elements" that were apparently trying to topple the government from within. He used the term "legislative dictatorship" to describe the opposition-controlled National Assembly.
Basically, he argued that the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) was acting as a proxy for Pyongyang.
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It was a heavy-duty accusation. He basically said the people elected to parliament were criminals trying to destroy the constitutional order. For many older Koreans, this rhetoric felt like a terrifying flashback to the era of Chun Doo-hwan, the dictator who used similar excuses to crush dissent decades ago.
The Real Pressure: A Paralyzed Presidency
Let’s get real for a second. The "North Korea" thing didn't really pass the smell test for most observers. The actual catalyst was a brutal, year-long stalemate between Yoon and the DPK.
The opposition held a massive majority in parliament, and they weren't exactly playing nice. Just days before the declaration, they had slashed the government's 2025 budget and moved to impeach several high-ranking officials, including the chief of the state audit agency and top prosecutors.
Yoon felt like he couldn't breathe.
Budget Wars and Impeachment Fevers
- The Budget Slashing: The DPK cut trillions of won from the national budget, targeting Yoon’s pet projects while boosting their own.
- The "Impeachment Machine": Yoon complained that since he took office in 2022, there had been 22 different impeachment attempts against his staff.
- Paralysis: To Yoon, the National Assembly wasn't a law-making body anymore; it was a "den of criminals" (his words, not mine) dedicated to making sure he couldn't govern.
The Elephant in the Room: The First Lady
You can't talk about why did South Korea president declare martial law without mentioning the First Lady, Kim Keon-hee. She’s been at the center of a whirlwind of scandals, ranging from allegations of stock manipulation to the infamous "Dior bag" incident.
The opposition was relentless in demanding a special counsel investigation into her activities. Yoon had already used his veto power multiple times to block these bills, but the pressure was building to a breaking point. Many political analysts believe the martial law decree was a desperate attempt to shut down these investigations once and for all. If the military is in charge, nobody is asking questions about a designer handbag or stock trades.
Six Hours of Chaos: How It Fell Apart
If Yoon expected the country to just roll over, he was dead wrong. What followed was a masterclass in democratic resilience.
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As soon as the announcement hit, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition, literally climbed a wall to get into the National Assembly building. He wasn't the only one. Lawmakers from across the spectrum—including members of Yoon's own People Power Party—rushed to the chamber.
Outside, ordinary citizens began to gather. They weren't just protesting; they were standing in front of military buses. Inside the halls, parliamentary aides used fire extinguishers to push back soldiers from the 707th Special Mission Group who were trying to seize the floor.
At 1:02 a.m., 190 lawmakers (out of 300) managed to hold a vote. They unanimously rejected the martial law decree. Under the South Korean Constitution, specifically Article 77, if a majority of the National Assembly demands the lifting of martial law, the president must comply.
Yoon was trapped by the very laws he tried to suspend. By 4:30 a.m., he was back on TV, looking defeated, announcing that the military would be withdrawn.
The Aftermath and the Path to 2026
The fallout was instant and permanent. Yoon’s approval ratings cratered into the single digits.
The defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, who was seen as the architect of the plan, resigned and was eventually arrested. He even attempted suicide in custody as the investigations deepened.
Fast forward to where we are now. Yoon didn't just lose his political capital; he lost his freedom. In early 2025, he was impeached and subsequently arrested. Just recently, in January 2026, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced him to five years in prison for obstruction of justice, with more trials—including charges of insurrection—still looming.
Key Takeaways from the Crisis
- Democracy is muscle memory: The reason the "coup" failed wasn't just a law; it was the fact that Koreans remembered what it was like to live under a dictatorship and refused to go back.
- Constitutional guardrails work: The specific clause requiring the president to lift martial law upon a parliamentary vote was the "kill switch" that saved the system.
- The North Korea "Card" is burnt: Using the threat of Pyongyang to justify domestic crackdowns doesn't have the same bite it did forty years ago.
If you're following the legal proceedings in Seoul today, remember that this wasn't just a "political disagreement." It was a stress test for one of Asia's most vibrant democracies. The system bent, but it didn't break.
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If you want to understand the current legal landscape for former President Yoon, your next step should be looking into the specific "insurrection" charges currently being debated in the Supreme Court. These cases will define the limits of presidential power in South Korea for the next century.