Yoon lifts martial law like a game, offers no apology
President Yoon Suk Yeol leaves the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, after delivering a statement on the National Assembly's resolution to lift martial law, Wednesday. Captured from YTN
The nation was left in shock as 280 armed troops from the Army’s Special Warfare Command attempted to suppress the National Assembly, triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law late Tuesday night.
Yoon offered no apology after lifting the martial law, following a unanimous vote by lawmakers against it.
At 4:29 a.m. on Wednesday, the president reappeared in the presidential briefing room, six hours after declaring martial law. He seemed to have been compelled to take the podium by the National Assembly's resolution demanding its repeal.
Meanwhile, armed soldiers, equipped with assault rifles and night vision goggles, clashed with National Assembly staff, shattering windows as they forcefully entered the premises. It was an unprecedented and deeply alarming event.
However, Yoon’s response was shameless. Rather than addressing the chaos, he doubled down on his justification, saying, “I declared martial law with a resolute determination to save the nation from anti-state forces attempting to paralyze the government and destroy the liberal democratic order.”
He casually mentioned that the military had been withdrawn following parliament’s resolution, showing no remorse or accountability. His demeanor suggested a trivialization of the situation, as if he were playing a child's game with toy soldiers.
Had the National Assembly not urgently convened a session, where all 190 members present unanimously voted to demand the lifting of martial law, Yoon’s forces might have continued to carry out his orders, regardless of public or political backlash.
Far from expressing regret, Yoon pressured the legislature, saying, “I urge the National Assembly to immediately halt repeated impeachments, legislative overreach, and budget sabotage, which paralyze the nation’s essential functions.”
Critics suggested that his statement left the door open for future martial law declarations.
The process of lifting martial law also raised eyebrows. While Yoon himself chaired the National Security Council to declare martial law, the task of officially rescinding it was handed over to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
During his early morning speech, Yoon said, “A Cabinet meeting has been convened, but due to the time, the quorum has not yet been reached. Martial law will be lifted as soon as the quorum is met.”
However, it was later revealed that Han chaired the meeting to lift martial law, leading to criticism of Yoon’s lack of direct involvement in resolving the crisis he initiated.
Yoon’s shameless lack of accountability and refusal to apologize for the chaos has left many questioning his leadership, with fears that he could resort to even more drastic measures in the future.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.