South Korea’s Political Chaos Underscores Dangers of Martial Law Abuse

In a stunning escalation of political turmoil, an independent counsel in South Korea has demanded the death sentence for former President Yoon Suk Yeol on rebellion charges tied to his short-lived martial law decree in December 2024. This unprecedented move exposes the deep fractures within South Korean governance—a key U.S. ally—and raises urgent questions about the stability of democracies under pressure from internal power struggles. Is Martial Law a Tool for Tyranny or National Security? Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law, the first such declaration in over 40 years in South Korea, deployed armed troops to encircle parliament and election...