Political Scholar: Martial Law Stemmed from 'End of Compromise'

The judicial verdict delivered 433 days after the December 3 emergency martial law declaration has brought closure to the so-called "insurrection" case. During this period, society paid incalculable costs, and the public became deeply polarized.

In an interview with Seoul Economic Daily on the 20th, Kang Won-taek, Director of Seoul National University's Institute for Future Strategy and professor of political science, diagnosed that "martial law was not a sudden incident but the result of pushing to the extreme after compromise collapsed."

Kang, who has spent his career researching political parties and reform, warned that the situation where executive and legislative powers define each other as evil could recur at any time.

The scholar has also withdrawn his previous advocacy for a parliamentary cabinet system, citing concerns about unilateral institutional changes driven by a specific party.

Regarding the Lee Jae-myung administration, Kang advised: "Rather than radical changes, the government should stabilize the system and present a 'grand vision' instead of focusing on micromanaging."

He emphasized that "an open mind to listen to different positions and presenting a major agenda for national unity is necessary," adding that "the public is thirsting for open and inclusive leadership."

On the collapse of compromise:

Kang noted that political polarization deepened during the Moon Jae-in administration's "clearing out old evils" campaign. "After Park Geun-hye's impeachment, the divided nation needed healing, but instead the other side was demonized," he said.

On the Yoon administration:

"Former President Yoon, having been a prosecutor his entire life, never practiced the countless possibilities of politics," Kang observed. Despite winning by only 0.73 percentage points—effectively a tie—Yoon displayed arrogance as if he had won everything.

On future political reform:

Kang now advocates for a multi-party system rather than constitutional reform. According to the Institute's survey, citizens believe an average of 3.7 significant parties in the National Assembly would be appropriate.

"If there are about four parties, no single party would hold a majority, forcing compromise," he explained. "Under the current winner-take-all structure of two major parties, both ruling and opposition parties end up refusing to acknowledge each other."

Advice for the Lee administration:

"President Lee should communicate with conservatives and pursue unified personnel appointments," Kang said, noting that after experiencing narrow and closed leadership since the Park Geun-hye administration, "the public is thirsting for open and inclusive leadership."