State of Emergency in South Korea

What is a state of emergency?
A state of emergency is a system that allows the government to exercise special powers during a national crisis. Think of it like an emergency switch for national security, activated when the country’s safety is at stake.

When is it activated?
It is mainly activated in situations such as:

Imminent war
Large-scale civil war
Severe national crisis
Historical examples
The most representative example of a state of emergency being declared was during the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980. At that time, the military regime misused this system politically.

Current state of emergency
Currently, it is operated under the strict control and supervision of the National Assembly, which is different from the past.

Conclusion
While a state of emergency is a system for national security, it is a very sensitive power that must be used cautiously.