President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law and issued a No.1 Decree on the night of December 3. Although the declaration was lifted just six hours later, it has sparked significant backlash across South Korea, with the university community also voicing strong opposition. These voices of concern regarding the decision are being actively raised at all levels of the universities, from the General Student Associations (GSAs) to individual departments and students.

The rally for the president's impeachment in front of the National Assembly Building.

About Martial Law Declaration

On the night of December 3, President Yoon declared emergency martial law, which he explained was a measure to protect the nation against the threats of North Korea's communist forces, eliminate pro-North and anti-state groups, and preserve the free constitutional order. Following the declaration, the No.1 Decree was revealed to impose restrictions on political activity, journalism, and any social activity that might have a significant social impact, with violators subject to penalties under the Martial Law Act.

This declaration raised significant criticism for its unconstitutional nature. The Constitution of the Republic of Korea states that the president can implement martial law during wartime or under similarly urgent circumstances, but experts say that the current situation does not align with it. Also, some criticized that some legal procedures were missing.

Furthermore, the No.1 Decree undermines the role of parliament, which is protected by the Constitution.  Article 77 of the Constitution does not grant authority for restricting or impeding parliamentary functions under martial law, and the president must the parliament demands to lift martial law with a majority vote. Despite this, the decree imposed measures that limit parliamentary activities, with armed forces attempting to prevent members of parliament from holding a vote regarding the lifting of martial law. This has sparked significant backlash nationwide, particularly within the university community.

President Yoon declared the emergency martial law.

Photo: Yonhap News TV (yonhapnewstv.co.kr)

University Community Have Risen-up to Unconstitutional Action

In response to the president’s unconstitutional actions, the university community has undertaken various measures at different scales. Since December 3, universities’ GSAs have issued statements, held a collective press conference, and convened general meetings of students to condemn the unconstitutional action.

Statement Proposal

GSAs from universities across the nation have issued statements condemning the president’s actions. For example, Running and Khube, Kyung Hee University (KHU)’s Global and Seoul campuses’ GSAs, released a collective statement: “We strongly condemn the illegal declaration of martial law. We will not succumb to unconstitutional actions, nor will lose our humanity in the face of despair. We pledge to uphold the Humanitas spirit established by our predecessors.

Similarly, the GSA of Yonsei University (YU) issued a statement asserting: “This declaration of martial law can never be accepted, as it is an unconstitutional move. The most unacceptable behavior in a democratic society is enforcing measures through violations. We condemn President Yoon for betraying democracy.”

Sogang University (SGU) GSA has also expressed its criticism, stating, “It tramples on the countless efforts and sacrifices made to establish a democratic society and denies the principle of national sovereignty enshrined in the Constitution.” The statement continued, "We strongly condemn the actions of President Yoon, who is undermining constitutional values.”

Nationwide University GSA Emergency Press Conference

Moreover, nationwide action was organized as a form of press conference by the University Union Forum. On December 6, approximately 60 members from seven universities’ GSAs gathered at Sinchon Star Plaza in Seodaemun-gu Seoul, to determine a unified response regarding the martial law. The participating universities were YU, SGU, Korea University (KU), Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Ewha Womans University, and Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology.

KAIST GSA president, Yoon Seo-jin, stated at the press conference, “The legitimacy of the Constitution, which is the foundation of the rule of law, is under threat. We will fully criticize it to defend liberal democracy.”

Beak Beom-jun, the Chairman of the Central Executive Committee for KU GSA, also remarked, “Student society must speak out together against injustice. This is the moment to hold the enemies of democracy accountable.”

The Nationwide University GSA Emergency Press Conference 

Photo: University Forum (instagram.com/univ_suforum/)

General Meeting of Students

Some universities organized meetings involving their entire student body. Running and Khube held general student meetings on each campus on December 12, which gathered 1,015 students from the Global Campus and 1,881 students from the Seoul Campus. During these meetings, a university-wide resolution was adopted, condemning actions that undermined democratic values and calling for the president’s resignation.

Signal, the Seoul National University GSA, held a general meeting of students on December 5, where 2,707 students gathered to discuss an impeachment request statement. Following the meeting, they staged a march.

Nanal, the KU GSA, also held the meeting on December 6. During the meeting, 2,435 students participated in drafting a resolution criticizing those responsible for initiating martial law and discussing appropriate follow-up actions for the student community.

KHU's General Meeting of Students

University Community’s Active Social Activity Participation

The university community has extended its efforts beyond campus activities, actively engaging in broader social movements. On December 7, a large-scale rally was held in front of the National Assembly Building, coinciding with the parliamentary vote on the president’s impeachment and a law to penalize his wife. According to the organizers, approximately 200,000 participants joined the rally, including numerous university groups and students.

The University Life was able to gather the voices of the students from the rally. Some students shared their perspectives on the appropriate attitudes that students should adopt in this situation, emphasizing the need for more active participation. Ko Yu-jin, a student at the Seoul Institute of the Arts (SIA), stated, “Although our generation may not be familiar with this kind of situation, it is time for us to take action to the fullest extent possible. Na Sei-yeon, a student from Soongsil University, also added her perspective: “Some students told me, ‘You are making too much fuss.’ However, I think it is right to make a fuss in this situation.”

The students also emphasized the importance of staying informed to prevent recurring issues. Na stated, “It’s crucial for students to engage with news reports and actively discuss social affairs to foster awareness.” Lee Jeong-min, another student from SIA, stated, “Regarding the situation, instead of being driven by others, we must take our own in-depth investigations of situations to uncover answers independently.”

Additionally, the students discussed the proper role that universities should take following this situation. Lee stated, “I think many students avoid expressing their opinions by staying neutral, but it is necessary for us to share our perspectives as adults. I hope universities can become spaces where we gain these valuable experiences.”

Lee Ji-hye, a student from HUFS, highlighted the historical role of students in democracy, saying, “Democracy in our country was built by university students. However, discussions about political issues are somewhat restricted these days. I hope universities can become spaces for more active discussions about political ideologies, serving as vital learning environments where these concepts can be deeply explored.”

The university students rally participants

Martial law was last declared 45 years ago, symbolizing the hard-won democracy established by predecessors through their relentless sacrifices. However, this seemingly solid foundation of democratic values was nearly undermined by the recent declaration. As university students have stressed, this is a crucial moment to stay vigilant in safeguarding democracy.