As the first anniversary of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3, 2024, martial law declaration approaches, President Lee Jae Myung plans a special address highlighting the restoration of democracy. The opposition People Power Party faces deepening internal turmoil, while police apologize for their actions at the time. Analysts say the incident has intensified partisan conflicts and regional divides.
One year has passed since former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, under the pretext of rooting out 'anti-state forces.' The shocking move led to the Yoon administration's mid-term ouster, marking the second presidential impeachment in Korean history. Power shifted to a new government led by the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), while the People Power Party (PPP) has been weakened and fractured, struggling to function as a credible opposition.
Internal divisions within the PPP are deepening over how to commemorate the anniversary. Party leader Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok faces pressure to issue a public apology for the upheaval triggered by Yoon, the PPP-backed candidate impeached in April 2025. Supreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja stated during Monday's meeting, 'We failed to prevent the (former) president's misjudgment. We neither checked nor restrained the power that we ourselves created.' Jang offered no comment, and spokesperson Park Sung-hoon said the leader is considering options amid fears an apology could backfire by reinforcing DPK's narrative of PPP ties to 'insurrectionist forces.' Rep. Bae Hyun-jin warned on Facebook that failing to break from the Yoon era would doom the party's chances in next June's local elections.
President Lee Jae Myung posted on X, 'We were on the brink of war, and it was the people of the great Republic of Korea who prevented it,' vowing to address unresolved 'acts of insurrection' like orders to send balloons toward North Korea, warning they could resurface if ignored. He will deliver a special address on Wednesday, emphasizing the public's rallies with K-pop glow sticks that restored democracy. A press conference with 80 foreign journalists follows under the theme 'A Renewed Democracy: One Year On,' reaffirming Korea's democratic resilience. Lee will then host a luncheon with key figures including National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, Constitutional Court Chief Kim Sang-hwan, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, and National Election Commission Chair Roh Tae-ak to reflect on the crisis and future tasks.
Acting National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoo Jae-seong apologized online to senior leaders, saying, 'Police restricted lawmakers' entry around the National Assembly on the night of Dec. 3... This act disrupted democracy and the constitutional order and was an unconstitutional and illegal act.' He vowed to protect the constitutional order henceforth. NPA head Cho Ji-ho and former Seoul Metropolitan Police chief Kim Bong-sik are on trial for insurrection roles.
A Realmeter poll showed Lee's approval rating dipping to 54.8% last week, down 1.1 points, with negative views at 40.7%, amid perceptions of political retaliation like the 15-year sentence sought for former PM Han Duck-soo and an arrest motion for Rep. Choo Kyung-ho. Economic woes like high interest rates and a record won-dollar rate contributed. DPK support fell to 45.6%, PPP rose to 37.4%.
Analysts highlight lasting damage. Myongji University professor Shin Yul said, 'The gravest damage was that by declaring martial law, public trust in the rule of law and in democratic institutions nearly collapsed,' enabling DPK's unchecked ambitions and extreme reforms. Inha University professor Park Sang-byoung noted intensified regionalism, with Gyeongsang as PPP bastion and Jeolla for DPK, calling it an 'antagonistic symbiosis' that stifles innovation and requires electoral reforms.
