Extension of Dictatorship, Martial Law 1979~1981

On October 16, 1979, a protest by students at Pusan National University broke out in the Busan-Masan region (Busan-Masan Uprising). As the protests continued, the Park Chung-hee regime declared martial law in the Busan area at 00:00 on October 18. When President Park Chung-hee died on October 26, the government declared martial law again. In the meantime, the 12.12 military revolt occurred and the new military junta took control of the military. In an attempt to seize power, the new military junta expanded martial law nationwide on May 17. When the citizens of Gwangju resisted, the airborne troops used violence and eventually fired at the citizens. The citizens of Gwangju continued to resist with force, and the new military junta suppressed the citizens’ resistance with force. From the moment martial law was implemented and the military took control of civilian society, everything became abnormal. The military took control of administrative power and suspended judicial power. The military has no legislative power, but in reality, proclamations are exercised as legislative power. This has been the case in South Korea since May 18, 1980. The National Assembly, which can decide to lift martial law by sending soldiers as supervisors to each government department, was completely blocked by the martial law army. Above all, the lives of the people were threatened and their daily lives were easily destroyed. No one could have predicted the dire consequences, and they remain as indelible scars. The military should no longer be used for political purposes or mobilized to threaten or take the lives of the people. This is the lesson of the martial law in 1979 and 1980.