The Korea University Student Council announced plans to open a bar themed 'Martial Law on Dec. 3 and National Unity' but faced criticism and ultimately deleted the post and apologized.
According to an online community on the 21st, the official social media (SNS) account of the department posted a photo of the bar's menu along with a statement explaining the planning intent with the title 'We declare martial law to protect freedom, justice, and truth' on the 20th.
The student council noted, 'This is the Republic of Korea in the year 3025, where martial law was declared on 1.23. The martial law ended without casualties after six hours, but society fell into great chaos and division.' They added, 'What is needed to solve the numerous problems we face, including refusal of cooperation, legislative rush, and extreme polarization, is our national unity.'
They continued, 'Tonight, we need everyone's strength to save the world and resolve division,' emphasizing, 'This bar is solely intended to satirize the martial law situation that occurred under the current government.'
The revealed menu included the phrase 'Martial law, we hit it,' and there were menu items utilizing politicians' names alongside edited images.
The main menu included 'Lee Jae-myung’s grilled pork belly' and 'Yoon Seok-youl's delicious tofu kimchi.' In particular, the 'Yoon Seok-youl's delicious tofu kimchi' introduction read, 'We declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of tasteless side dishes and to safeguard the taste of the people.' This appears to utilize the proclamation made by former President Yoon Seok-youl when he declared martial law on Dec. 3.
The side menu featured ▲Cho Kuk's innovative ramen ▲Leftist spaghetti + Rightist kimchi ▲Martial law byproducts, etc. The explanation for 'Leftist spaghetti + Rightist kimchi' included a composite photo of Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung asking People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo, who was lying down in a hospital gown, 'Don't you have a desire to eat a bowl of leftist spaghetti?' The 'Martial law byproducts' included a photo of former President Yoon in a chef's outfit smiling while making rolled omelet.
In addition, the desserts and drinks included ▲Jeong Cheong Lemon Sherbet ▲Hong Cola ▲Woo Won's Sikhye ▲Han Deok Water, among others. For 'Han Deok Water,' the description added, 'At the time when all citizens are having a good sleep, for just one hour in the sacred main building room 228, spring water was poured into a single bottle. To allow you to directly taste the essence of a clean and pure National Assembly, we prepared limited edition 'Han Deok Water' at our bar. It is recommended to consume between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.'
The student council announced an event, stating, 'For the resolution of polarization, if you order both progressive and conservative menus together, you will receive a set discount, and if you order in the form of a Constitutional Court order, you will receive a service.'
Among netizens reacting to this, comments arose such as, 'Is it a joke that a martial law that could have killed thousands of people?', 'Does that mean no one stopped this after seeing it?', along with, 'This is not something you can laugh off lightly,' 'Even if political parodies are okay, 'Martial Law, we hit it' went too far,' and 'Just as normal people do not ridicule Gwangju May 18, isn't it the same for the Dec. 3 martial law?'
As the controversy grew, the student council expressed, 'We deeply regret causing discomfort and misunderstandings for some students and citizens regarding the concept used,' adding, 'The planning of this bar aimed to critically reflect on the crisis situations and extreme polarization evident in real politics. The setting of 'martial law' was used as a symbolic device for satire, intending to question what role citizens can take amid this political chaos.'
They also stated, 'We humbly acknowledge our lack of awareness regarding handling martial law. There was no intention to glamorize or trivialize the institution of martial law at all.'