Amidst the short-lived martial law declaration in South Korea, social media users on X (formerly known as Twitter) shared their concerns on the matter.
The martial law orders from South President Yoon Suk-yeol caused worries to the citizens of the country as they remembered the last time that South Korea went under martial law.
“You might not have learned about 5/18. (Gwangju Massacre) But back then, peaceful protesters were targeted and shot at – they fired indiscriminately from helicopters, women were raped, parents were murdered in front of their children, and any young people the soldiers could see were beaten and buried alive in the ground. Martial law means that all of this becomes legal again,” one X user said.
"You might not have learned about 5/18. (Gwangju Massacre)
But back then, peaceful protesters were targeted and shot at – they fired indiscriminately from helicopters, women were raped, parents were murdered in front of their children, (1/2) https://t.co/tDNUzT7jc8
— Jenny 🍉 moving to 🦋 (@asunnydisposish) December 3, 2024
Some social media users also called out people who posted insensitive remarks about the situation.
“Your silly little quips like “I didn’t think South Korea would become North Korea!” and “Americans could never do this because we remember Kent State” are Not Funny considering that Korea has lived through military dictatorships and state-sanctioned massacres of its people,” one said.
Another social media user said, “Why are we complaining about comebacks being cancelled when people’s lives in South Korea are at stake?!” after media companies told artists not to attend scheduled events due to martial law declaration.
Why are we complaining about comebacks being cancelled when people's lives in South Korea are at stake?!
— cee ✨ (@defjaes_) December 3, 2024
“Like I said What were you guys expecting from international fans? Bear in mind, these are the same people who, during the Halloween incident, were more focused on whether their favorite K-pop idols were there rather than acknowledging the tragic fact that so many people died,” a third X user said, citing the Itaewon Halloween incident from 2022.
Hours after the martial law was lifted, protesters called for President Yoon Suk-yeol to step down.
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