On Thursday, South Korea’s National Assembly approved sweeping changes to martial law rules, responding to December’s unprecedented presidential emergency declaration. The new legislation forbids the military or police from entering the National Assembly without advance consent from the parliamentary Speaker’s office.
It also clarifies that no official may stop lawmakers from entering the Assembly chambers under martial law conditions. This reform follows last December’s political shock when President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly invoked martial law without consulting parliament first.
Military vehicles surrounded the Assembly that night, and some lawmakers called its outer fences to access the main chamber. Parliamentarians successfully override Yoon’s martial law order within six hours, preventing a complete military control of legislative proceedings.
Many South Koreans viewed the event as a frightening return to tactics from the country’s pro-democracy authoritarian past. Yoon had referred to vague threats from anti-state forces to justify martial law but failed to present solid evidence to lawmakers.
Public backlash followed quickly, and several of Yoon’s top officials were arrested or forced to resign within weeks. The impeachment of Yoon passed in record time, and the former president is now facing trial for insurrection and constitutional violations.
In a June snap election, opposition candidate Lee Jae Myung won the presidency and pledged to restore public trust in institutions. President Lee promised a more open approach toward North Korea diplomacy at a Thursday press conference marking one month in office.
Lawmakers passed the martial law reform on the same day, signaling bipartisan support for democratic safeguards. Despite that, Yoon’s People Power Party boycotted the vote, reflecting deep bipartisan divisions that still run through the National Assembly.
