In a bid to prevent the possibility of martial law under the administration of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea have announced their intent to push for amendments to the Martial Law Act. Members of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee from the ruling party, including Kim Min-seok, Kim Byung-joo, Park Sun-won, and Boo Seung-chan, held a press conference at the National Assembly’s Communication Center on 20th, stating their goal to introduce the ‘Seoul Spring 4 Laws’ to prevent a coup disguised as martial law.
The Seoul Spring 4 Laws aim to strengthen the criteria for declaring martial law, requiring approval in advance from over half of the lawmakers present and the approval of over half of the attending members for the maintenance of martial law. The proposed amendments also guarantee the right of lawmakers to participate in the decision to lift martial law. Additionally, the laws outline compensation by the state and local governments for any damages caused during the execution of martial law without parliamentary approval.
The lawmakers warned that any attempt by the Prime Minister or Defense Minister to suggest martial law would result in legal and political repercussions, stressing the need for strong measures to prevent any covert intention to impose martial law. They cited several reasons to raise concerns about a martial law conspiracy, including the President’s crackdown on anti-national or anti-state elements without legal basis, the recent discovery of a military faction meeting after the Hanaro and Alza incidents, and the inadequate legal mechanisms to prevent a coup-like martial law.
Kim Min-seok further emphasized that the party leadership had been briefed on the bill preparation, and they would make every effort to rally the party for the passage of this critical legislation.
This bold stance by the ruling party members signifies a proactive approach to safeguarding democratic principles and the rule of law in South Korea, setting a precedent for a vigilant and responsive parliamentary system.
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