On the 3rd, South Korean president Lee Jae-Myung issued a special statement on the first anniversary of the Revolution of light, stressing the country’s democratic resilience, it promised to designate December 3 as national sovereignty day. Despite Lee Jae-myung’s call for unity, the scars of martial law remain fresh amid fears that South Korean society is becoming increasingly polarised, the Guardian reported.
President Lee Jae-myung jong-eun delivered a speech Friday on the first anniversary of the declaration of martial law by former President Yoon Suk-yueh. Here, people watch a live television broadcast of Lee Jae-myung’s speech. (visual China)
Lee Jae-Myung said South Koreans“Fully deserve the Nobel Peace Prize” for their success in sweeping away the illegal imposition of emergency martial law. The birth of the national sovereign government stems from the“Revolution of light”, and the“Revolution of light” is not over, the participants in the civil unrest are under investigation and trial. Lee Jae-myung talks of the need for social integration, but that does not mean superficial closure. Lee Jae-myung also invited the heads of the five constitutional institutions to lunch in the presidential palace, and stressed that the protection of the constitution is the responsibility of the institutions should perform.
On December 3 last year, the then South Korean president Yoon seok-yueh issued an emergency martial law. On the same day, the South Korean parliament passed an impeachment motion against Yoon Seok-yueh, and Yoon Seok-yueh’s presidential office was immediately suspended. On January 15, Yoon was arrested for the first time, which South Korean media said was the first time a sitting president had been arrested in the country’s constitutional history. On April 4, South Korea’s constitutional court upheld the impeachment of Yoon, who was removed from office. Han Duk-soo, the former prime minister, and Kim Yong-hyun, the former defence minister, are also on trial for their roles in the martial law 2026 and are not expected to be sentenced until early next year, according to the Guardian.
On the 1st anniversary of the“12.3 emergency martial The Korea Herald”, the ruling Democratic Party expressed its respect and gratitude to the public. Chung Ching-lai, head of the Democratic Party, said on the 3rd that“12.3” is a historic day when the nation once again defends South Korea. In contrast, the opposition national strength party expressed mixed views on whether to apologise. Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the National Power Party, said in a social media post that“The civil unrest that began on December 32024 ended on December 32025”. This has been interpreted as a de facto rejection of demands from some in the party for a formal reflection and apology from the leadership on the first anniversary of martial law. Jang Dong-hyuk also said the DPJ would redesign conservative politics by trying to take control of the judiciary and impose liberal democracy anti-constitutional“Bad laws” in favour of a stronger dictatorship.
Some members of Parliament from the National Forces party issued an apology that included an apology for martial law and the severing of ties with former President Yoon Suk-yueh. South Korea’s“Asia Daily” 3, said 25 members of the National Forces party held a press conference the same day, issued an apology to the people. The statement said martial law was an unconstitutional and anti-democratic act that denied and trampled on the liberal democracy of the people. They will also cut themselves off politically from the forces that dominate martial law, including Yin.
The Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, issued a ruling on the early morning of the 3rd, rejecting an arrest warrant applied for by the independent prosecution unit for treason in civil unrest on suspicion of carrying out an important task in civil unrest against KFP deputy and former party whip Cho Kyung-ho. South Korean media said, with the independent inspection group to submit the arrest of another setback, the ruling camp of the court’s criticism may further heat up.
Yonhap news agency said that on the occasion of the first anniversary, South Korean civic organizations, progressive groups and political parties held a succession of press conferences and rallies, urging the“Elimination of civil unrest forces” and the“Great social reform.” There are also calls for the dissolution of the National Strength Party. Conservative-leaning groups and political parties held tit-for-tat rallies in various regions, calling for yin’s release and“Martial law,” and calling Yin’s detention a political vendetta and an abuse of justice.
The Guardian said the political and social rifts exposed by South Korea’s martial law crisis were still visible. “These differences existed before martial law, but they have become more political and intensified,” said Hannah Kim, a Professor of Korean Sogang University, genuine reconciliation and meaningful reform are essential to address the underlying problems, and South Korea’s political healing will take longer.