[Candle-lit vigils and rallies were held across South Korea on Wednesday, with a nation outraged and frustrated by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s surprise declaration of martial law the night before, calling for his resignation.
Outside the National Assembly Hall in the capital Seoul, hundreds of people gathered on the steps as inside, opposition parties attempted to impeach Yoon, whose six hours of martial law sent shockwaves through the country and plunged Asia’s fourth-largest economy into political uncertainty.
People who spoke to CNN described Yoon’s move, the first declaration of martial law since South Korea transitioned to democracy in the late 1980s, as “insanity” and an “embarrassment.” For many, it brought back dark memories of a more authoritarian past defined by mass arrests and human rights abuses.
For Mi-rye, a 64-year-old who only wanted to go by her first name for fear of retribution, the short-lived decree brought back memories of Chun Doo-hwan’s reign, which included strict curfews, mass arrests, and human rights abuses. “A sense of fear completely overwhelmed me,” she said. “Even stepping outside to smoke could get you arrested. People walking on the street without their ID cards were detained. Plainclothes officers were stationed everywhere, waiting to catch people.”
For others, the martial law decree was a painful reminder of how easily democracy can be threatened. “It is a painful reminder of how easily democracy can be threatened,” said Kyung-soo, a 55-year-old teacher. “I grew up in an environment filled with fear.”
Some, like 15-year-old Moon Seo-yeon, were determined to join the rallies, criticizing Yoon’s declaration as a “mistake” and a “complete lack of consideration.” She said that Yoon’s term in office had been marked by a lack of progress and many significant events that were poorly handled or not addressed at all.
As the country grapples with the aftermath of Yoon’s surprise announcement, questions now turn to what comes next. There is mounting pressure for him to resign, with protesters calling for him to be arrested and opposition parties demanding his impeachment.
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