South Korea’s Democracy Just Passed a Major Test Against a Significant Threat

As if further confirmation were needed that democracy seems to be increasingly threatened everywhere, there was a major political upheaval in South Korea over the weekend. It seemed like the democracy in that nation was hanging in the balance. 

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was democratically elected by the people, tried to impose martial law in the country. Effectively, he attempted to take control of the government by force. It happened late at night, while many were already sleeping. That was when, according to an article by Lauri Kellman and Kim Tong-Hyung of the Associated Press, President Yoon began:

"asserting sweeping powers to prevent opposition demonstrations, ban political parties and control the media. It’s members of the military attempting to block lawmakers from exercising their power to vote on cancelling the power grab."

Yet, the president's attempt to grab power was ultimately defeated. The whole chapter lasted approximately six hours, before Parliament finally gave a resounding and unanimous answer, ultimately rejecting the martial law:

Unified popular support for democracy. Legislators storming the National Assembly past midnight, live-streaming themselves climbing over fences. A politician grabbing at a soldier’s rifle and yelling “Aren’t you ashamed?” until he retreated. And finally, decisively, Parliament assembling a quorum and voting unanimously to cancel martial law. 

So democracy won this particular battle. South Korea remains a democracy. However, it seems like just the latest challenge to democracy in a world that increasingly seems intent on challenging democracy. Naturally, it has people wondering if similar tests to democracy would survive in other countries, and particularly the United States. If something similar happens in the United States once Trump is back in power, would lawmakers unify to prevent a hostile takeover and suspension of democracy?

Unfortunately, it feels like we just might find out in the not so distant future. Let's hope that we are up to the test, as were South Korean lawmakers.

Below is the link to the article which I used in writing this particular blog entry, and from which I obtained all of the quotes used in the above:

South Korea’s democracy held after a 6-hour power play. What does it say for democracies elsewhere? by  LAURIE KELLMAN and KIM TONG-HYUNG Updated 6:48 AM EST, December 9, 2024:

https://apnews.com/article/coup-yoon-democracy-martial-law-trump-caa2e5c9bbbe59c3af7f3bfab65bdf4b