Republic of Korea - July 2025

On 3 July, South Korean lawmakers voted to amend the existing Martial Law Act to prevent future executive overreach. The revised rules now prohibit military and police from entering the National Assembly without the Speaker's approval and also prohibits any other attempts to obstruct lawmakers, among other provisions. This amendment follows President Yoon Suk Yeol’s abrupt martial law order in December 2024, during which military personnel blocked lawmakers from entering the National Assembly, forcing them to scale the walls to vote down his order. President Lee Jae-Myung promulgated the amendments on 22 July 2025.

Sources: International IDEA, BBC News, The Ministry of Government Legislation