On the night of December 3rd, Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. However, facing strong opposition, he was forced to lift it just six hours later.

Immediately after his declaration, the martial law commander announced a ban on all political activities, strikes, rallies, and protests.

Yoon soon deployed heavily armed soldiers into the National Assembly grounds to block lawmakers from gathering. Martial law forces broke windows to enter the National Assembly building, aiming to prevent the vote to lift martial law.

However, as soon as martial law was declared, people gathered in front of the National Assembly. Despite it being early morning, around 4,000 people quickly assembled at the gates, demanding the repeal of martial law, protesting to soldiers, and blocking armored vehicles. The image of armored vehicles immobilized and surrounded by crowds symbolized the massive public backlash against Yoon’s declaration.

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) also announced an indefinite general strike starting the morning of December 4th, stating it would continue “until Yoon Suk-yeol steps down.”

As the backlash grew, even ruling party members and conservative media voices began opposing martial law, showing that Yoon failed to secure support even from his own camp.

Eventually, just 2 hours and 30 minutes after martial law was declared, the National Assembly voted to revoke the martial law, and Yoon lifted martial law by dawn.

Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law was an anti-democratic outrage. He claimed the need to eradicate “pro-North Korea, anti-state forces” and to stop “dictatorship of parliament’ against the government as his justification for the martial law. He was trying to advance the threat of North Korea as a pretext to suppress political opponents.

In the run-up to the martial law declaration, Yoon was in severe political crisis. His approval ratings had plummeted, and public sentiment against him was spreading. Weekly anti-Yoon rallies have mobilized 100,000 participants in downtown Seoul for five consecutive weeks.

Faced with such crisis, Yoon attempted to attack democracy by mobilizing the military. He sought to suppress political opponents, undermine democratic rights, and intimidate the public through martial law.

Yoon will not abandon his reactionary attempts. He can strike back. As long as he remains in power, there can be no sense of security. He must be removed immediately.

Therefore, this is only the first step of the struggle.

It is time for everyone to rise and demand Yoon Suk-yeol’s resignation. Let us all take to the streets. The KCTU must proceed with the planned general strike.

4 December 4, 2024

Workers’ Solidarity