- Title: PERSONAL: Korean martial law brings back memories of military rule
- Date: 6th December 2024
- Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (DECEMBER 6, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WOMEN'S WASHROOM IN FUNCTIONING CIVIL PROTECTION SHELTER VARIOUS OF TOILETS STORAGE ROOM MUGS AND BOWLS ON SHELF VARIOUS OF BOXES WITH TAMPONS DWITH LABEL READING IN GERMAN "STORED AUG. 1982") FRANKFURT, GERMANY (DECEMBER 4, 2024) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (German) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF FEDERAL ASSOCIATION FOR PROTECTION OF
- Embargoed: 20th December 2024 12:28
- Keywords: Seoul South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol democracy martial law politics protest protester
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002520306122024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:When President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law for the first time in South Korea since 1980, 70-year-old protester Lee Chul-Woo was reminded of his youth, much of it spent protesting South Korea's military strongmen.
The swift rejection and failure of Yoon's move, which critics have labelled an insurrection aimed at eliminating political opposition, partly stems from the country's painful history with right-wing military dictators, which millions of South Koreans can still vividly recall.
Lee, who has been going to protests calling for Yoon's impeachment in the past few days, said he participated in pro-democracy student protests in the 1980s and was beaten and arrested by soldiers for it, leaving a trauma that still gives him cold sweats and nightmares at night.
"Three investigators came at me, guns pointed. But I didn’t even know what was going on. It was indiscriminate beating. It is to break your spirit. I was hit so hard that I started seeing flashes of light," Lee said.
When troops were sent to the National Assembly to enforce Yoon's orders, Lee said the move brought back memories of the abuses he suffered.
"It reminds me of the human rights abuses I experienced. Back then, I kept running away when martial law was declared," he said.
Yoon on Tuesday (December 3) said martial law was necessary to protect South Korea "from the threat of North Korean communist forces" and "to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people."
His branding of critics and opponents as North Korea or communist sympathisers echoes language used by the South Korean government to justify crackdowns like the Gwangju massacre in 1980, alienating voters like Lee that suffered under right-wing authoritarian governments.
"If a coup happens again, I will go to the National Assembly and do my best. That’s the way to save the country," Lee said.
(Production: Tom Bateman & Sebin Choi) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains photographs or artwork. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing this clip.