South Korean religious communities and Yoon Suk-yeol: before, during, and after the 12.3 Martial Law Decree

This roundtable addresses the question of how South Korean religious communities interacted with Yoon Suk-yeol before, during, and after the 12.3 martial law decree. From his campaigning days in early 2022, through his tenure as South Korea’s president, to his convulsive but short-lived martial law decree of December 3, 2024, and to the turmoil that ensued, Yoon’s public canvas included an unusually broad and diverse religious footprint for a South Korean president. This panel explores that footprint with respect to the communities that have most often been cited in narratives and discourses about the matter: Protestants, Catholics, Buddhists, and Shamans/New Religionists. Apart from a presider, the roundtable will feature four presenters, each focusing on one of the communities. Ample opportunities will be provided for interaction between the panelists and between the panelists and the audience.