'100-Minute Debate' has proven the public's high interest in martial law, with viewership increasing 7.5 times compared to last week.
The MBC current affairs program '100-Minute Debate', urgently scheduled on the 4th, was themed 'Martial Law After 45 Years, Impeachment in Full Swing'. Participants included Yoon Hee-seok, senior spokesperson of the People Power Party, Park Joo-min, a member of the Democratic Party, author Yoo Si-min, and Jeon Hak-seon, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Law School.
On the night of the 3rd, at around 10:24 PM, President Yoon Suk-yeol held an emergency address at the Yongsan Presidential Office, stating that the National Assembly had become "a den of criminals and is attempting to paralyze the nation's judicial and administrative systems through legislative dictatorship, aiming to overthrow the free democratic system." He then declared martial law, stating, "To eradicate the shameless pro-North Korea anti-state forces at once and to protect the free constitutional order."
With the unprecedented martial law declared for the first time in 45 years since 1979, members of the National Assembly responded to the emergency summons by Speaker Woo Won-sik and gathered at the National Assembly. Around 1 AM on the 4th, a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law was passed with 190 members present (172 from the opposition, 18 from the ruling party) and 190 votes in favor. President Yoon announced the lifting of martial law at around 4:27 AM, and the resolution to lift the martial law was passed at the Cabinet meeting held at 4:30 AM.
During the broadcast, author Yoo stated regarding martial law, "The president has the authority to declare martial law among his powers. I believe it can be used." However, he added, "Nevertheless, the president may make a wrong judgment. Democracy is designed to distribute power to consider such possibilities and to check it. The president's judgment may not be right for the state and the people, so the Constitution provides for the National Assembly to deliberate and decide to lift martial law." He criticized, "However, there were attempts to break into the National Assembly. There was much debate about whether there was an attempt to arrest, but the National Assembly's security forces were sent to block the doors, and members had to climb over the walls to enter. It was essentially an attempt to paralyze the National Assembly. This is beyond the scope of presidential authority. This is an unambiguous, abnormal, illegal, and unconstitutional act."
In response, Professor Jeon Hak-seon emphasized, "Even if martial law is declared, no measures can be taken against the National Assembly. In a national crisis, the president is granted immense power. Concentrating power is necessary for the speed needed to resolve a crisis. However, the National Assembly must be able to check this. Otherwise, it could lead to dictatorship. No measures can be taken against the National Assembly." He added, "The entry of martial law troops into the National Assembly itself is not provided for in the Constitution or the martial law act. It is a serious violation."
Yoon Hee-seok, appearing as the ruling party representative, stated, "(In the proclamation No. 1 issued on the 3rd in the name of Park An-soo, the martial law commander) it states that political activities are prohibited. There are indications that arrest teams have been individually deployed against Representative Lee Jae-myung, Speaker Woo Won-sik, and Representative Han Dong-hoon. To some extent, the facts of the deployment of arrest teams are being confirmed." He claimed, "This situation restricts powers against the National Assembly, which is unconstitutional," and added that some members of their party participated in voting against it, although not all. He continued, "I also thought that doing this to the National Assembly based on the proclamation could be problematic."
However, Yoon Hee-seok opposed the impeachment of President Yoon. He argued, "The moment impeachment occurs, the constitutional order is partially suspended, and we experienced that 7 or 8 years ago. It is a time we can clearly remember what happened afterward."
According to Nielsen Korea, a viewership survey agency, '100-Minute Debate' recorded a viewership rating of 7.5% (nationally) on the 5th. This is a 7.5-fold increase compared to the previous week’s episode (aired on November 26) titled 'Judicial Risks, Where is the Storm of Allegations of Intervention in Nominations?' which recorded 1%. The video released on the MBC '100-Minute Debate' YouTube channel surpassed 660,000 views within 12 hours of its release, evidencing the public's high interest.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party announced that it would file charges against President Yoon for treason and push for impeachment. The Democratic Party and five other opposition parties reported the impeachment motion against President Yoon at the National Assembly's plenary session held on the 5th and plan to put it to a vote on the 6th or 7th. The People Power Party held a general meeting of lawmakers on the night of the 4th and adopted opposition to President Yoon's impeachment as the party's stance.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
