Martial law: Year after South Korea imposed it, where else is it in force?

Al JazeeraCenterEN 7 min read 100% complete by Farah NajjarDecember 3, 2025 at 07:25 AM

AI Summary

long article 7 min

On December 3, 2024, South Korea's then-President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law citing unrest and national security threats, deploying troops and curtailing freedoms. The decree was quickly met with protests and parliamentary opposition, leading to its withdrawal within hours. The Supreme Court deemed it unconstitutional, and Yoon was later impeached. The Al Jazeera article, published a year later on December 3, 2025, examines the implications of martial law, noting that while South Korea quickly reversed course, several other countries remain under military rule. Martial law involves the military assuming control over civilian functions, often suspending rights, restricting movement and media, and replacing civilian institutions. Governments typically invoke it during war, unrest, or rebellion.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Burkina Faso 50% Ukraine ×280% Myanmar 80% Yoon Suk-yeol ×4100% South Korea ×5100%

Keywords

martial law 100% military rule 80% south korea 70% civil liberties 60% political crisis 60% emergency system 50% yoon suk-yeol 50% national security 40% unrest 40%