South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 was met with swift opposition. Protestors and politicians alike denounced the decision, believing it to be invalid and authoritarian. Less than three hours after the president’s address, parliament voted to lift the declaration.
This is not the first time that South Korea has experienced martial law. The last time it happened was in 1980, after a military coup. In response, pro-democracy activists protested in the city of Gwangju and were met with violent retaliation from the military.
If you’re interested in the Gwanju Uprising and the South Korean response to martial law, check out the film A Taxi Driver (2017). Based on a real-life story, the film stars Song Kang-ho as a taxi driver who gets hired to take a German journalist into the heart of the Gwangju Uprising. A Taxi Driver received praise from critics for its cinematography and its emotional depiction of a violent and traumatic historical event. Members of the American University community can view this film on Kanopy.
