South Korea Marks One Year Since Thwarted Martial Law, Facing Political Reckoning
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A year after a dramatic attempt to impose martial law failed, South Korea is grappling with the fallout – from high-profile prosecutions to constitutional reforms – while striving to reaffirm its democratic resilience. On Wednesday, President Lee Jae Myung lauded the country’s citizens for defending its democratic institutions against what he termed a “self-coup” attempt by his predecessor.
A Failed Power Grab and Its Aftermath
A year ago, the nation stood on the brink as then-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, alleging a “legislative dictatorship” by the opposition. Troops were dispatched to the National Assembly, and decrees banning political activity were issued. However, the parliament successfully voted down the declaration within six hours, and citizens mobilized to protect the legislature from military intervention. As President Lee stated during a press conference, South Koreans “astonished the world” by restoring democratic governance.
Prosecution and Impeachment of Former President Yoon
The repercussions for Yoon and his administration have been swift and severe. Within days of the failed martial law declaration, law enforcement launched an investigation into Yoon on charges of insurrection. In January, he became the first sitting president in South Korean history to be arrested. The National Assembly subsequently impeached Yoon on December 14, 2024, with support from lawmakers across the political spectrum, and the Constitutional Court unanimously confirmed the impeachment in April.
Yoon now faces indictment for masterminding an insurrection, abusing power, and attempting treason. A special counsel team further alleged in November that Yoon authorized the deployment of drones into Pyongyang in October 2024, purportedly to provoke a response from North Korea and justify the martial law declaration. More than a dozen military commanders, along with Yoon’s defense minister, interior minister, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, have also been indicted for their alleged involvement in the attempted insurrection. The trial of Han Duck-soo is currently the most advanced, with a verdict scheduled for January 21, 2026. Despite the mounting legal challenges, Yoon and his allies have maintained their innocence, defending the martial law declaration as a legitimate exercise of executive power.
Structural Reforms to Safeguard Democracy
In response to the crisis, the National Assembly enacted significant reforms in July to prevent a recurrence. New legislation imposes stricter requirements for declaring martial law and strengthens protections for the parliament. Military and police personnel are now prohibited from entering the parliamentary compound without the Speaker’s consent, even during a state of martial law.
Separate bills are also under consideration to grant public servants, including military personnel, the right to disobey unlawful orders from superiors. Ahn Gyu-back, the first civilian defense minister in 64 years, has undertaken a major reshuffling of the military’s top ranks and initiated an internal audit of units involved in the martial law mobilization.
President Lee’s administration has also launched a government-wide investigation into officials who cooperated in the execution of the martial law orders. In September, Lee proposed amending the South Korean constitution to shift from a single five-year presidential term to two four-year terms, introducing mid-term elections to enhance presidential accountability.
A Deepening Political Divide
While public confidence in national institutions appears to be recovering – according to recent polling data – the martial law debacle has exacerbated existing political divisions within South Korea. A recent poll revealed that 77% of respondents believe political polarization has worsened since the crisis.
Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP), now in opposition, remains fractured over whether to apologize for the former president’s actions, despite calls for accountability from military and police leaders. Facing local elections next year, the PPP must decide whether to appeal to centrist voters with an apology or continue to support Yoon to maintain its conservative base. On Wednesday, fewer than a quarter of PPP lawmakers offered an apology during a press conference.
President Lee acknowledged the challenge of balancing accountability with national unity, stating, “The intention is not to mercilessly punish the perpetrators, but we can’t sweep them under the rug and let things slide. We need to unite, but unity doesn’t mean stitching things up.”
Global Implications and a Blow to South Korea’s Image
The crisis has damaged South Korea’s international reputation as a successful democracy that peacefully transitioned from military rule in the 1980s. It also proved embarrassing for the Biden administration, which had championed Yoon as a leader of an allied “model democracy” and hosted the inaugural “Summit for Democracy” aimed at countering global authoritarianism. Allegations of deliberate provocations against North Korea have further strained the US-South Korea alliance, raising concerns about the safety of U.S. troops stationed in the region.
President Lee expressed hope that South Korea’s experience would serve as “a historic example for the restoration of democracy” worldwide. However, he cautioned that this outcome hinges on the country’s ability to prevent future political instability and democratic backsliding.
