South Korean president must explain why he issued martial law, bishops say

The president of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, must explain to the population the reasons that led him to proclaim martial law, even if it has later been repealed, said the president of the Catholic bishops, Mons. Matthias Iong-hoon Ri .

On Tuesday the 3rd, the president declared martial law—an announcement that had not happened in 40 years—, claiming that it was to protect the constitutional order from “anti-state activities” and threats from North Korea.

“To safeguard a liberal South Korea from threats from North Korean communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements (…) I declare emergency martial law,” he said on national television overnight.

However, protests in the streets and the meeting of the National Assembly to oppose this measure forced Yoon Suk-yeol to repeal it hours later. He now faces possible impeachment, although parliamentarians from his party have announced that they will oppose this.

Given this scenario, the president of the Korean Episcopal Conference, Bishop Matthias Iong-hoon Ri, pointed out that the president “must address the citizens directly, explain the events that led to the proclamation and lifting of martial law, apologize sincerely to the people and assume responsibility for what happened.”

In a letter sent to the SIR agencythe prelate indicates that the bishops consider that “many citizens were shocked and spent the night awake due to the declaration of martial law that took place last night.”

“Governmental acts and administrative procedures, except in cases of extreme urgency, must be carried out using regular procedures and methods and communicated to citizens,” he adds.

In that sense, he explains that according to “constitutional law experts, President Yoon Suk-yeol’s proclamation of martial law raises multiple issues of procedural legitimacy.”

“Although martial law was lifted by decision of the National Assembly, it remains doubtful that it was really necessary to proclaim such a serious and urgent measure, especially considering that it was lifted after only six hours,” he said.

In his letter, Bishop Matthias Iong-hoon Ri indicates that the South Korean president must answer whether such a “drastic decision” was necessary, taking into account “that there are no obvious threats of invasion by external enemies or of imminent war.”

He also questioned: was this sudden proclamation “an appropriate choice for a supreme commander of the armed forces?” “The democracy of our country was built with great sacrifices,” he remembers.

In that sense, he states that “the Korean Catholic Church firmly supports and is committed to preserving our democracy, the fruit of the blood and sweat of many people over the years.” “We strongly urge President Yoon Suk-yeol and the government to sincerely respond to the requests of the Catholic Church and Korean citizens,” he concludes.