South Korean democracy passes unexpected test as martial law attempt fails
South Koreaʼs president briefly declared martial law which was overturned in just hours. This quick reversal brought back memories of the countryʼs difficult path to democracy in the 1980s
A late-night declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol shook South Korea this week but the swift response showed how much the country has changed. The sudden move (which lasted just a few hours) reminded many citizens of their nations hard-won democratic values
The brief crisis made older South Koreans think about events from over four decades ago: the military take-over in late 70s and tragic events in Gwangju that followed. These memories – still fresh in peoples minds – created a mix of worry and relief when the declaration was quickly cancelled
The democratic system proved its strength; government institutions worked together to stop this un-expected move. Legal experts point out that modern-day South Korea has built strong safe-guards against any attempts to limit peoples rights: “Our democracy isnt perfect but its resilient enough to handle such challenges“ [[Statement from Seoul National University constitutional scholar]]
The whole situation showed how South Koreas political system has grown since the 80s. Opposition leaders‚ civil groups and regular citizens all spoke up fast which helped solve the issue without any real problems. The media coverage was non-stop; social networks were full of discussion about democratic values
