In a dramatic move, South Korea has revamped its martial law to ensure military powers are tethered within democratic boundaries, aiming to curb past abuses and bolster civil liberties.
At a Glance
- South Korea’s National Assembly has passed a major revision to its martial law regulations.
- The new law explicitly prohibits the military or police from entering the parliament building or interfering with its sessions without the Speaker’s approval.
- The reform is a direct response to the political crisis in December 2024, when then-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and sent troops to the legislature.
- Former President Yoon is now on trial for insurrection following his impeachment.
A New Safeguard for South Korean Democracy
South Korea’s National Assembly on Thursday, July 3, 2025, approved a landmark revision of the country’s martial law regulations, a move designed to prevent a repeat of the political crisis that recently shook the nation to its core. The new law firmly establishes civilian control over the military during a state of emergency.
South Korea's parliament passes revision to rules governing martial law https://t.co/RZwOeEHoYM https://t.co/RZwOeEHoYM
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) July 3, 2025
The most critical provision in the new law explicitly forbids military or police forces from entering the National Assembly building or interfering with parliamentary proceedings without the prior, express consent of the Speaker of the Assembly.
A Direct Response to a “Reckless” Decree
The legislative reform is a direct response to the tumultuous events of December 3, 2024. On that night, then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative, shocked the nation by unexpectedly declaring martial law, claiming it was necessary to root out “anti-state forces” sympathetic to North Korea. As part of his decree, he dispatched troops to the National Assembly in an attempt to physically prevent lawmakers from holding a vote to block his order.
The move backfired spectacularly. As detailed by the BBC, in a dramatic scene, lawmakers scaled walls and pushed past soldiers to enter the chamber, where they overwhelmingly voted to nullify the martial law decree just hours after it was issued.
The Political Fallout
The crisis triggered the immediate political downfall of Yoon Suk Yeol. He was swiftly impeached by the National Assembly and is now on trial for insurrection. Several of his top aides, including his Defense Minister, have also been arrested.
The turmoil led to a snap presidential election, which was won by the opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, who has vowed to pursue a different path from his predecessor, particularly regarding relations with North Korea.
The new law passed this week is seen as a critical step in healing the country’s political wounds and creating a durable safeguard for its democratic institutions. It sends a clear message that an attempt by any future leader to use the military to subvert the will of the legislature will not be tolerated.
