Record of Reclusion

My thoughts on 2024 Korean Martial Law as a Korean

Brief summary of 2024 Korean Martial Law

24.12.03 11pm President Yoon declared martial law.

24.12.04 12am The representative of the ruling party tells the press that the party does not align with the President's decision.

24.12.04 1am 190-0 Unanimous decision to remove the martial law.

24.12.04 4am Yoon withdrew the martial law

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Credit: KBS

A bit of context (you may skip this)

Though I grew up as third culture kid, with my family roots coming from Gwangju, Gwangju Uprising has a special place in my heart.

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Credit: AP Photo/ Kim Chon Kil

Gwangju is a southern province of South Korea. In 1980 May 18th, student and civilian of Gwangju demonstrated against the Coup d'etat and subsequent dictatorship of Chun Doohwan. To this, the military authorities killed, raped, beat and tortured the protesters and even those who weren't protesting and just walking by. Later the troop confessed to 'hunting human,' where they didn't just kill protesters under government orders, but went inside the buildings (schools, stores, restaurants, bus) and dragged people out and killed -sometimes rape- all to make head counts quotas.

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Credit: AP Photo/Go Myung Jin

The Gwangju Uprising was suppressed but fused the following years' democratic movement. After many uprising from different regions -which thank goodness was less brutally suppressed. Finally in 1987 June 10th, the whole nation stood up against the dictator which lead to his impeachment.

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Credit: News1

For many years, the government labelled the uprising as 'riots instigated by communists' and claimed 165 people died when in reality it was a massacre of civilians with over 3,000 casualty and injury. The government denied military involvement on suppression. This was proven to be far from the truth by the 245 bullet marks found on a building of local broadcasting system and news media -which all alluded to the fact that a helicopter was mobilised in the suppression. In 2002, President Kim Dae-Jung enacted a law to honor and provide benefits to those who contributed to the democratic movement, giving back in-due respect for those who died in Gwangju Uprising.

My thoughts on 2024 Korean Martial Law

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Credit: JTBC

A soldier pointed a gun at the spokesperson of opposing party. The spokesperson holds the gun to herself and scolds the solder isn't he ashamed of himself.

Now my respect goes to the soldier who didn't shoot her.

When I see armed suppression and police brutality, I wonder who made the first shot. Civilians who weren't event protesting including pregnant women and children died during Gwangju Uprising. Who shot the first bullet to make the subsequent ones easier? The first bullet cuts the built up tension and from then on ration and humanity are paralysed.

Back to last night's story, the army dispatched is known to be from the Special Forces. They are trained to efficiently kill under order. Considering how much hate is going on here -hate between genders, different generations, political stances- he could have shot this left-winged middle-aged female spokesperson. Or not even considering the soldier's stances, from the chaos of aggravated protesters and dilemma of obeying orders, he still could have shot her. Then the first shot would have been made, the one evil has been anticipating. And once more we could have bled and the consequences could have been totally different.

Many applaud for the spokesperson for her courage. But I think we should applaud for these young men too. Realistically speaking, how difficult would it to be for the army to stop 190 old men and women entering the congress building. Despite the aggression and violent comeback of the protesters, the dispatched soldiers used minimal force to stop them. I'm grateful that they are well educated and well ordered to not cause harm that could have evolved into larger and irreversible harm.