On December 3rd 2024, South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, both shocking and attracting the attention of the international community. Soon after, the South Korean Parliament held a vote, overturning the presidents declaration by a vote of 190 to 0, bringing the situation back from the brink. As an important Indo-Pacific partner of Taiwan, the Taiwan People's Party does not hope to see any situation, which threatens the free and democratic system of South Korea. Additionally, we hope that South Korea will continue to defend stable democratic development. We hope that the people of South Korea and our own compatriots have not been negatively affected and everything is well. 

In addition, when the democratic crisis broke out in South Korea, the Democratic Progressive Party suddenly released a statement seemingly endorsing the declaration of martial law. This statement by the DPP trampled on the hard won democratic spirit of Taiwan. In the past, our elders used their own bodies, blood, and sweat, to fight for democracy and protest an authoritarian regime. They fought for the ending of martial law, an end to the ban on political parties and newspapers, and to promote democratization. Right now, the hearts of the DPP’s are hiding thoughts of martial law to repress the opposition parties. The DPP uses the appearance of democracy, but actually has totalitarian ways of thinking. The democratically regressive expressions of the DPP are unacceptable. 

The Taiwan People’s Party wishes to emphasize, democracy does not come easy, and it is never okay to treat martial as a light topic to easily manipulate. 
In order to avoid abuse of power, the Taiwan People’s Party does not want power concentrated in the hands of one person. This is the basis of modern constitutional government. Power must be used to oversee and exist within checks and balances, in order to protect democratic freedoms. This is a lesson from history that we must all remember.