Summary (updated)

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday to counter “anti-state” forces, accusing opposition lawmakers of pro-North Korean sympathies.

Parliament, controlled by the opposition, quickly voted to nullify the declaration, calling it unconstitutional.

Protesters and lawmakers denounced Yoon’s move as authoritarian, echoing South Korea’s pre-democracy era.

Military personnel withdrew following the vote, and Yoon promised to lift martial law after a Cabinet meeting.

Critics warned of democratic backsliding. This marks South Korea’s first martial law declaration since democratization in 1987.

  • @jordanlund
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    2421 hours ago

    This is huge, pinning for a bit.

    • @Astronauticaldb
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      611 hours ago

      In all likelihood, that seems to be the case. I’d wager that since the people were shouting outside the parliament building that he should be impeached, plus that said parliament is mostly ran by the Opposition at this time, it’s fair to call it. Plus the fact that their military said this: “Following Yoon’s announcement of martial law, South Korea’s military proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” would be suspended, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said. The military said anyone who violated the decree could be arrested without a warrant.”

      • @ikidd
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        810 hours ago

        Sounds like they need to clean house in the military leadership as well.

  • ✺roguetrick✺
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    515 hours ago

    You’d think a military staffed by citizen conscripts would balk at something like this. Hopefully they hang the leaders out to dry before they decide they’ve got nothing to lose by couping.

    • @[email protected]
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      1014 hours ago

      Really, I’m more appalled at Yoon on this one. What kind of ignorant chump fails to gain the unquestionable support of the military before going all in on a military coup?

  • @chronicledmonocle
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    651 day ago

    It’s “refreshing” to see conservative leaders in other countries are just as insane and inept as they are in the West.

    • @x00z
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      -261 day ago

      What are you comparing it to? Trumpman? because that’s totally different.

      • doctorskull
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        3523 hours ago

        Trump would certainly never abuse his power for personal political gain, that’s very true, as long as we ignore * squints at phone * all of the evidence

        • @x00z
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          -2022 hours ago

          No. I’m saying the US has no neighboring country threatening them every day and undermining their government.

          If you compare it to the US it would look more like Biden invoking martial law because he thinks Trump is a Russian puppet.

          So Trump threatening with martial law for immigrants (and probably lgbt+ communities) is quite different.

          • @[email protected]
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            1120 hours ago

            We don’t need geographic neighbors to undermine us when they can do it over the Internet.

            • @[email protected]
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              319 hours ago

              Even then I think we’ve been proving a foreign government can fuck up another country from the other side of the world since at least 1492.

  • @[email protected]
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    581 day ago

    Both the majority party (which is the party of the president) and the opposition party are saying this is unconstitutional. So hopefully they have some actions they can take to curtail it.

    • @NocturnalMorning
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      81 day ago

      Well yeah, wouldn’t you say something if the president said we should dissolve congress?

      • @[email protected]
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        516 hours ago

        Yes but it’s not a given considering a good chunk of US politicians defend Trump doing something like this on Jan 6

        • @[email protected]
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          1420 hours ago

          The BBC reports the military isn’t gonna listen to the vote

          It’s like 4am there though so might be quiet for a bit.

          General strike called for by one of the big unions too until Yoon resigns

          • @[email protected]
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            20 hours ago

            Jesus Christ.

            Edit: Okay, he said he’s going to withdraw it, like he’s supposed to when the parliament votes for it, but this is such a whirlwind I have to expect the unexpected.

            • Jack
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              1620 hours ago

              It is a good practice to doubt the pinkie promises of wannabe dictators

              • @[email protected]
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                19 hours ago

                Yes, it sure is. In geopolitics there’s no actual binding rules, just threats and relationships.

                BBC is now reporting that the cabinet has lifted the martial law, which I assume means the immediate threat is over, without knowing how South Korean constitutional procedures work. There’s still a damn lot of “pieces to pick up”, though.

                • Jack
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                  719 hours ago

                  That should immediately end your turn as a president IMO.

        • @samus12345
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          321 hours ago

          That has a paywall? It doesn’t for me for some reason. Does this work?

          • God
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            416 hours ago

            Lol I’m not even safe in the archive version.

          • @Sweetpeaches69
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            320 hours ago

            Yes, thank you! I’ll need to bookmark that site.

    • GHiLA
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      721 hours ago

      If you’re white, wear a lot of red, agree with stuff, hide anything remotely questionable and mind your p’s and q’s until the circus implodes.

      If you’re brown, Latino, gay, LGBTQ+… run far as fuck away, then keep running.

    • @[email protected]
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      423 hours ago

      The easiest way to survive Kristal Nacht 2: Electric Boogaloo is to get outta there before it happens. Stockpiling some food and “hunkering down” isn’t gonna keep you safe. Get outta there.

      What does America offer that you can’t get in Europe, Canada, Australia, etc?

      Brain drain the fascist state to a standstill.

      The earlier you do it, the higher your chances of being accepted into other countries. They may block American refugees if there becomes an exodus. It also means you have time to sell unnecessary items instead of possibly having to abandon them.

      Good luck, whatever path you choose.

      • @[email protected]
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        312 hours ago

        Please tell me which countries are taking refugees from the United States without needing to have first found employment and applying to immigrate through the normal process, without being explicit members of a protected class. Or even if you are.

        Because to my knowledge, that doesn’t currently exist. Meaning its only attainable for people already in the top 10% economically.

        • @[email protected]
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          18 hours ago

          There is no refugee for Americans. The basis for refugee is an existing imminent threat, not a looming threat.

          Your only chance might be places like Russia or China that would be happy to declare the US to be so dangerous they had to take you in as refugee for political gains.

      • @Sweetpeaches69
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        1021 hours ago

        Oh yes, let me just move to another country so easily.

      • @[email protected]
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        017 hours ago

        Americans refugees in other countries…

        Quite a show that will be…

        But but but will the Americans cope up with the lifestyle of other countries which are thought to be beneath the mighty US…

        😹😹😹

    • @RubberElectrons
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      223 hours ago

      Start saving money and storing bulk dry goods. General strike, out and out street fights, who knows.

      Just be ready to shelter in place or get outta wherever you are.

  • @[email protected]
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    -224 hours ago

    In reality, if someone is a politician working within the state, they’re not actually “anti-state”.