• South Korea marks the first anniversary of the failed martial law declaration by former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
• President Lee Jae Myung calls for justice, emphasizing the need to hold perpetrators accountable.
• Lee proposes making December 3 a day for "people's sovereignty" to honor citizens' resistance.
• Former President Yoon faces severe legal repercussions, including charges of insurrection and abuse of power.
• The political fallout has deepened divisions within South Korean society, challenging national unity.

On December 3, 2025, South Korea commemorated the first anniversary of the failed martial law declaration by former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Current President Lee Jae Myung emphasized that the day should be recognized as a celebration of "people's sovereignty," showcasing the citizens' collective action that thwarted an unjust power grab. Lee remarked, "by defeating an unjust power through peaceful means, the South Korean people have shown themselves fully deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize," according to aa and npr.

President Lee reiterated the significance of this day in reflecting on democracy, characterizing the failed martial law as a "self-coup," which was successfully resisted by unarmed civilians. He described the event as "the revolution of light," and officially announced the initiative to designate December 3 as National Sovereignty Day in honor of the public's courage that night aa, channelnewsasia, and npr.

As the political landscape shifts, Lee called for perpetrators of the martial law declaration to be held accountable, stressing that the work of reforming the country post-crisis is laborious. He articulated this process as necessary for healing, comparing it to cancer treatment; it cannot be completed easily channelnewsasia and npr.

Former President Yoon is facing an array of legal challenges, including impeachment and prosecution for insurrection and abuse of power, making him the first sitting president in South Korea to face such charges leading from the martial law incident. Following the declaration, which lasted a mere six hours, he was quickly unseated through a parliamentary vote, and investigations into his conduct have continued ever since aa, npr, and channelnewsasia.

Lee also faces the challenge of navigating a politically divided nation, where the aftermath of the martial law situation has widened social fissures. Recent polls indicate an increase in public perception of polarization, with debates ongoing within the opposition People Power Party about whether to apologize for Yoon's actions or to distance themselves from him entirely npr.