After President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration and subsequent lifting of martial law, intense discussions have emerged online about the movie '12.12: The Day'.

On December 3rd, at approximately 10:25 PM, President Yoon delivered an emergency address from the Yongsan Presidential Office, declaring martial law. Amid widespread confusion and political repercussions, the National Assembly passed a resolution at 1:02 AM on December 4th, with all 190 participating lawmakers voting to request the president to lift martial law.

In another address later that morning, President Yoon stated, “At 11 PM yesterday (December 3rd), I declared martial law with resolute patriotic determination to counter anti-state forces threatening the fundamental functions of our nation and attempting to dismantle our liberal democratic constitutional order. However, following the National Assembly’s request for its removal, military forces assigned to enforce martial law have been withdrawn.”

This marks the first declaration of martial law since the 1979 assassination of President Park Chung Hee, and the first such event since South Korea’s democratization in 1987.

Following the dramatic six-hour timeline of martial law declaration and reversal, the film 12.12: The Day, released in November of last year and watched by over 13 million people, has resurfaced in public discourse.

12.12: The Day, which amassed 13.12 million viewers and was a box-office hit, is inspired by the December 12, 1979 military coup in Seoul. The film portrays the high-stakes confrontation between military leaders of the new regime and soldiers resisting their seizure of power.

In the movie, actor Hwang Jung Min plays Jeon Du Kwang, a character modeled after former President Chun Doo Hwan, while Jung Woo Sung portrays Lee Tae Shin, a fictionalized version of a capital defense commander.

Praised for the outstanding performances of its cast, 12.12: The Day recently won four major awards at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Hwang Jung Min, the Audience Award, and Best Editing.

As scenes of military helicopters, armored vehicles entering Seoul, and soldiers breaking into the National Assembly building flooded social media during the martial law incident, netizens shared their reactions, commenting, “I thought it was a movie,” and “Reality feels more like a film.”

Amid the current political turmoil, interest in 12.12: The Day, released over a year ago, has been reignited, further solidifying its relevance.

SEE ALSO: South Korean President faces impeachment vote amid political turmoil