In a late-night power-play that shook Seoul last week‚ South-Koreas democratic system faced an un-expected test. While most citizens were fast asleep a short-lived martial law declaration threatened to up-end the nations political landscape
The six-hour decree by President Yoon Suk-yeol aimed to block anti-government protests control media outlets and ban certain political groups (which caused immediate push-back from parliament members). The military tried to stop law-makers from entering the building; however democracy showed its strength
The whole situation became a text-book example of how modern-day threats to democratic systems work — when elected leaders try to grab extra powers through quasi-legal means. The parliamentary response was quick and decisive: they voted to cancel the decree despite military presence
This middle-of-night crisis showed how South-Koreas democratic institutions stayed strong even when tested. The law-makers didnt give in to pressure; instead they used their constitutional rights to protect peoples freedoms