South Koreans returned to work, school, and daily routines today, as life in Seoul appeared normal despite the shock lingering from the six-hour imposition of martial law on Tuesday and the ensuing political turmoil.
The capital city of 9 million resumed its usual rhythm, with commuters filling trains and roads. This followed President Yoon Suk-yeol’s decision to revoke the martial law declaration, ending his attempt to ban political activities and impose media censorship.
However, many Seoul residents remain shaken by the events, which caused South Korea’s stock market and national currency to plummet sharply.
Martial Law and its historical context
Martial law has been declared in South Korea roughly ten times since the Republic of Korea was established in 1948. The last instance occurred over four decades ago, when General Chun Doo-hwan seized power and ruled the country from 1980 to 1988.
Fifty-year-old Kang Hye-soo, a Seoul resident, recounted his fear and confusion upon waking to the news.
“I was terrified and kept wondering, ‘How can this happen in today’s world?’ I couldn’t sleep until the martial law was lifted because I was so scared,” he said.
President Yoon announced martial law during a televised address at approximately 10:30 PM local time on Tuesday. The declaration was revoked after the National Assembly rejected his move to halt political activities and enforce strict media censorship.
Yoon’s office later explained that martial law was declared during the night to “minimise the impact on the national economy and people’s lives.”
Scenes of a militarised capital
During the brief period of martial law, soldiers equipped with rifles, bulletproof vests, and night vision goggles stormed the National Assembly building, breaking windows to gain entry. Helicopters hovered overhead, adding to the tense atmosphere.
“It was like a scene from a movie, but I realised it was far more serious than I thought,” said Kim Byung-in, a 39-year-old Seoul resident, who expressed concerns over the economic repercussions of the political crisis.
Many South Koreans stayed awake late into the night following developments, with media outlets continuing to broadcast despite the imposition of martial law. In the normally quiet subway system, passengers began discussing the news openly. “One man was reading the news out loud to another,” an eyewitness told Reuters.
Protests and panic buying
Thousands of people gathered outside the National Assembly building overnight, demanding the reversal of Yoon’s decision, as well as his arrest and resignation. Nearly two-thirds of the 300-member National Assembly voted to reject martial law.
Meanwhile, panic buying ensued. A major South Korean supermarket chain reported a 337% spike in canned food sales between 11 PM and midnight compared to the same time the previous week. Sales of instant noodles rose 254%, and bottled water sales increased 141%, according to a company spokesperson.
Some businesses advised employees to work from home overnight, though offices and operations resumed as normal this morning.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the country’s largest labor union, announced today that tens of thousands of its members would strike until Yoon resigns. A protest is planned for this afternoon in central Seoul, with additional demonstrations expected to follow.
Lingering questions
“I just knew martial law was declared for some reason, but it ended without anything notable happening, making the reasoning behind it seem pointless,” commented Park Yoon-yeop, another Seoul resident. “It all felt strange to me.”
The events, though brief, have left a lasting sense of unease as South Koreans grapple with the implications of the unprecedented decision in modern times.
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Photo source: BBC
Source: ANA-MPA
