Decoding the Korean Martial Law: A Political Rivalry that Tears Apart National Consensus

Author: Deep Tide TechFlow

On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol suddenly announced the implementation of "emergency martial law," a decision that not only shocked the South Korean political scene but also triggered a serious constitutional crisis.

Of course, as always, cryptocurrency investors were among the injured, with the price of Bitcoin on South Korea's largest trading platform, Upbit, briefly plunging to $65,000.

So, the question arises: why did Yoon Suk-yeol announce sudden martial law?

The direct reason for Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law was "to maintain the free constitutional order," accusing the opposition party of "hijacking the National Assembly and disrupting the country," claiming to protect the Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces and to eliminate pro-North anti-state forces.

Who is the enemy he speaks of?

That would be Yoon Suk-yeol's lifelong political rival—Lee Jae-myung.

In South Korean politics, the rivalry between Yoon Suk-yeol and Lee Jae-myung has become one of the most prominent political dramas in recent years. This feud, which began in the prosecution system, continued into the presidential election, and ultimately evolved into judicial accountability, is not only a personal contest between two political figures but also reflects the deep divisions within South Korean society.

In 2019, then-Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol began a series of investigations into the ruling Democratic Party. At that time, Lee Jae-myung, who was serving as the governor of Gyeonggi Province, also became one of the targets of the prosecution's attention. This confrontation peaked during the 2022 presidential election, where the two engaged in fierce exchanges, exposing each other's family corruption and spousal issues. Ultimately, Yoon Suk-yeol won by a narrow margin and took office at the Blue House.

Although Lee Jae-myung lost to Yoon Suk-yeol by a slim margin in the 2022 presidential election, his political influence has not diminished as a result.

The dramatic turn of events in 2023 added more fuel to this feud. In March, Lee Jae-myung was indicted on multiple charges, including corruption in urban development, illegal remittances to North Korea, and perjury during the election period. By September, he was formally arrested, an action that immediately sparked strong protests from his supporters.

Supporters of Lee Jae-myung believe this is a blatant political revenge by the Yoon Suk-yeol government. Meanwhile, the ruling party insists that this is a matter of legal procedure, emphasizing the independence and necessity of the judicial process. This controversy quickly evolved into a nationwide political crisis, triggering waves of protests on the streets of Seoul.

Why does Lee Jae-myung, despite facing multiple lawsuits, still enjoy substantial public support?

It is necessary to talk about Lee Jae-myung's life; his rise can be described as South Korea's version of the "American Dream."

Coming from a poor background, his father was an ordinary miner, and the family was not well-off. More notably, he did not have the prestigious educational background typical of most South Korean political elites but successfully obtained a lawyer's qualification through self-study and made a name for himself in the field of human rights.

Before entering national politics, Lee Jae-myung demonstrated exceptional governance capabilities while working in local government. During his tenures as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province, he implemented a series of welfare policies and established a solid reputation for his achievements.

In terms of communication, Lee Jae-myung effectively combines his political views with social hot topics through his daily updates on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, using straightforward and relatable language. This communication style is particularly popular among young voters, helping him break through the stereotypical image of traditional politicians.

At this point, you might think of someone else? Someone who is also embroiled in legal troubles yet remains popular among the public. That's right, it's Trump. Many people compare Lee Jae-myung to South Korea's Trump; as the leader of the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, who is burdened with five criminal cases, is still seen as a strong contender for the 2027 South Korean presidential seat.

Recently, a South Korean media outlet published an opinion piece titled "Can Lee Jae-myung Become Trump?" stating that the elected President Trump in the U.S. could offer some comfort to Lee Jae-myung, as the former faced multiple criminal cases yet still won the election. The article pointed out that in modern elections, American voters seem to increasingly disregard values such as morality and justice, and the same is true in South Korea.

On November 25, Lee Jae-myung was acquitted in the "incitement to perjury" case at the Seoul Central District Court.

On the weekend before the verdict, on November 23, near Gwanghwamun in Seoul, supporters of the "progressive" and "conservative" factions staged a counter-demonstration. The "progressive" rally demanded "President Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation," while the "conservative" rally called for "the arrest of Lee Jae-myung," with both camps less than a kilometer apart and over ten thousand participants.

Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating plummeted to just 17%, a historic low.

Although the South Korean government has long been questioned due to corruption rumors, it is extremely rare for approval ratings to fall below 20%. This indicates that the president has almost lost effective control over the government.

In contrast, after being indicted and arrested, Lee Jae-myung not only did not lose public support but gained more sympathy and backing due to the narrative of "political persecution."

South Korean crypto investor @Yusoff Kim believes that although the official statement mentioned "national security" as the main reason, many people think this move is more about consolidating the president's power during the current crisis.

Regarding Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law, Lee Jae-myung stated that President Yoon Suk-yeol's illegal declaration of martial law is invalid, and from now on, Yoon Suk-yeol is no longer the president of the Republic of Korea. He also called on the South Korean people to go to the National Assembly to protect it.

The impact of this political struggle extends far beyond personal grievances. It deepens the divide between South Korean conservatives and progressives and exposes many controversial issues within South Korea's democratic system. The conservative People Power Party, represented by Yoon Suk-yeol, and the progressive Democratic Party led by Lee Jae-myung have fundamental differences in political ideology and national development paths.

Is South Korean society currently trapped in a deeper division due to this ongoing political dispute? The judicial process of the Lee Jae-myung case is still ongoing, but its political impact has already transcended the courtroom, becoming a litmus test for South Korea's political civilization and social stability.