New Jersey Koreans react to statement

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law on Tuesday drew global attention and sent shockwaves through North Jersey’s Korean American communities.

And although it only took a few hours for the country’s parliament to reject the move, people in Palisades Park are concerned about the state of government in their homeland because of the political turmoil.

“Honestly, I’m a little worried,” said Arbert Yang, who was born in Korea but moved to the United States in 1989. “I really don’t understand it. Why the explanation? “Why now?” he said while waiting for a bus on Broad Avenue in Palisades Park.

The story continues after the gallery.

The surprise statement came as Yoon’s People Power Party and the opposition Democratic Party were locked in a political dispute over a budget proposal.

In April’s parliamentary election, the president’s party suffered a resounding defeat, with the opposition winning almost two-thirds of the seats.

Yoon said in a late-night televised address that he made the statement “to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that plunder the freedom and happiness of our people.” and to protect the free constitutional order.”

Koreans, who make up the majority of the population in Palisades Park, said the president’s statement showed he had lost the people’s mandate.

“I am against martial law. “It’s a bad, bad decision,” said Andy Kim, who is not related to the New Jersey senator-elect. “The president needs to retire.”

Kim is not alone in his dislike of the South Korean president.

“I’m not really a fan of the president,” said Chan Jun, who is Korean and whose parents currently live in South Korea. Jun heard the news Tuesday afternoon while walking home from a store in Palisades Park.

Some Korean residents of Bergen County found the president’s move puzzling. “‘Confused’ was my first reaction,” said Heeyun Chung, a worker at a yogurt shop in Palisades Park who is of Korean descent and lives in Leonia. “Why would he do that? Maybe the recent midterm elections and the victory of his opposition party have something to do with it.”

Chung and his colleague Daniel Ko said they both knew what was going on with the Korean president and government, but admitted they were not too concerned with Korean politics. “We are fully engaged in American politics,” Ko said. “I’m exhausted after the November election.”

The two yogurt shop workers have relatives living in South Korea, but despite the resulting chaos, they weren’t worried.

“To be honest, I’m not too worried about the safety of my relatives who currently live in Korea,” Chung said. “I think Korea has been through worse.”

Yoon’s declaration marked the first time the government declared martial law in more than 40 years. Former dictator Chun Doo-Hwan imposed martial law in 1980 after seizing power in a military coup.

In recent years, South Korea has emerged as a leading Asian democracy and trade center, with major industries including steel, textiles, consumer electronics and automobile manufacturing.

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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