South Korea's war law threatens democracy, say protesters
South Korea's war law threatens democracy, say protesters
In South Korea, candle guards and protests took place on Wednesday after the president had surprisingly announced war law, which triggered nationwide outrage and frustration. The citizens demanded his resignation and gathered in front of the national meeting hall in the capital Seoul, while the opposition parties inside against President Yoon Suk Yeol for a iMPeachment . The six -hour declaration of war law put the fourth largest economy in Asia in political uncertainty.
memories of authoritarianism
The participants who spoke to CNN and described Yoon's decision - the first explanation of war law since the transition of South Korea on democracy in the late 1980s - commented onon site.
The 64-year-old Mi-Rye, who, for fear of reprisals, only wants to be mentioned with her first name, spoke of the return of dark memories of a painful, authoritarian past that was shaped by mass arrests and violations of human rights. "A feeling of fear overwhelmed me completely," she said after addressing Yoon on Tuesday evening. She could not sleep and traveled from her hometown Paju in the province of Gyeonggi, near the border with North Korea, to Seoul, to "stay vigilant".
The shadows of the past
mi-Rye remembered the 1980s when Major Chun Doo-Hwan General Major Coupon came to power and imposed war rights. "People lived under strict starting blocks," she reported. "Anyone who was caught was brought to the Samcheong general education camp. Even leaving the house could lead to smoking." She added: "People who were on the street without ID were recorded. Civil officers were stationed everywhere and waited to catch people."
Under Chun's rule, opponents were arrested, universities were closed, political activities were prohibited and the press suffocated. Almost 200 people were killed in 1980 when Chun sent the military to suffocate student pro-democracy demonstrations.
fear and frustration
The 55-year-old teacher Kyung-Soo, who lives near the university in Gwangju, where many students lost their lives, shared his memories: "I grew up in an environment full of fear. The law was something that I felt deep and personally. Even yesterday I was afraid that shots could fall in the National Assembly building." Kyung-Soo believes that his fear “from the government, which apparently is disconnected by the voices of their people.”
"War law is not just a distant memory," he emphasized. "It is a painful memory of how easily democracy can be threatened."
The voice of the youth
This message also seems to have arrived among those who have only experienced democracy in South Korea. 15-year-old Moon Seo-yeon was determined to take part in the protests in Seoul. She described Yoon's explanation of war law as a "mistake", which "lacked completely in consideration". " For Moon, war law is only the latest of the numerous imponderables that occurred during his term. She feels that there was no progress during this time.
"During Yoon's term there were many significant events that were either difficult to treat or not addressed. href = "https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/04/asia/itaewon-seoul-korea-halloween-crush-timeline-tl-hnk-hnk-hnk-hnk-hnk-hnk-hnk-html"> Halloween-tragödie in which more than 150 people died. "I may not be old or very knowing, but since the country is in an emergency, I would like to make a contribution, even if it is only a little effort."
political turbulence and the way forward
Now the questions are aimed at what will come next, since Yoon is confronted with growing criticism from various political camps, also within his own party. The pressure on him is growing. On Wednesday evening, the demonstrators began to march through the city center and demanded his arrest.
Six opposition parties have a draft law Impeachment to be requested. In the meantime, the largest opposition party, the democratic party, explained that it was there to do formal plans for a betrayal position to concretize the president and the interior.
mi-Rye, who traveled to Seoul to take part in the protests, said she would continue to protest until Yoon resigns. "Although there is a certain relief after the abolition of war law, there is still concern that it could be imposed again," she said. "That's why I'm here."