Unpacking South Korea’s 2024 Martial Law Declaration: Key Issues and Unanswered Questions
South Korea's declaration of martial law in December 2024 continues to spark widespread debate and speculation. While much attention has been given to the military raids on the National Election Commission (NEC) and the alleged evidence of election fraud, several unresolved issues remain at the heart of this unprecedented move. 1. The Scale and Timing of the NEC Raid What Was the Real Target? The NEC headquarters in Gwacheon housed only 10 night-shift staff when 300 troops , including counterintelligence agents, entered just 2 minutes after martial law was declared . Such overwhelming force raises questions. Was the focus on server data , encrypted communications, or physical documents? The prolonged 3-hour, 20-minute search suggests a meticulous operation to retrieve sensitive evidence or prevent its destruction. Why Confiscate Staff Phones? Confiscating all phones hints at concerns over data leaks or the potential for real-time interference by external actors. Could the gove...