(The images attached to this article are collected from posts circulating online and do not represent the views of this publication.)

A post criticizing President Yoon Seokyeol, who is known to be a habitual drinker, suggesting that he declared martial law while intoxicated. Image source=X

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After President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a surprise martial law late at night on the 3rd and lifted it just six hours later, a flood of satirical memes has appeared online.

On the 4th, memes and parodies satirizing the martial law declaration spread widely across various online communities and social networking services (SNS). The most notable image is a poster titled "Looks Like He's Drunk." This photo is a parody of the poster for the film "Seoul Spring," which deals with the martial law imposed by the new military regime 44 years ago. President Yoon's face is superimposed over that of the main character Jeon Dugwang (played by Hwang Jung-min) from "Seoul Spring." Netizens have shared this image with humorous comments such as, "President Yoon enjoys drinking," and "Did he declare martial law while drunk?"

A post combining President Yoon Sukyeol with Jeon Dugwang, the villain from the movie 'Spring in Seoul'. Image source = X

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A composite image of the movie poster for "Spring in Seoul" and President Yoon Sukyeol. Image source=EX

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A social media post speculating on President Yoon Sukyeol's reason for declaring martial law. Image source= X

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An SNS post depicting Chun Doohwan murmuring while watching the martial law scene outside the window. Image source=Ex

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In addition, posts with a self-mocking tone, such as "Did President Yoon watch the Blue Dragon Film Awards broadcast about the controversy over non-marital childbirth involving actor Jung Woo-sung and model Moon Gabi, and then watch the movie 'Seoul Spring'? Maybe he got fixated on martial law after watching the film," have received a high number of likes. Other posts gaining traction online include, "I was laughing about Trump (being elected) in the US, but now martial law has been declared in my own country," and "From now on, I won't sit at the same table with people who nitpick the plausibility of historical dramas."

A post depicting former President Park Geunhye giving advice to President Yoon Sukyeol. Photo by X

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A post showing former President Park Geunhye pointing to Seoul Detention Center towards President Yoon Sukyeol. Image source=EX

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A satirical image has also circulated online featuring President Yoon and former President Park Geun-hye sitting face-to-face at Park's residence in Daegu in April 2022, with a caption implying Park is saying, "I only thought about it too. You crazy XX." This appears to mock the secret drafting of martial law documents by the Defense Security Command in February 2017, just before Park's impeachment.

Similar memes have emerged overseas. An international X (formerly Twitter) user posted a doctored photo showing former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, and Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Russia's Wagner Group, inviting President Yoon to "join us." All of these figures are known for having recently attempted or planned failed pro-military coups.

A composite photo showing former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, and Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Russian Wagner Group, telling President Yoon Sukyeol to "join us." Image source=X Photo by X

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A social media post expressing surprise at a foreign correspondent's comment explaining the martial law situation in Korea. Image source=Ex

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A post depicting North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jongun looking embarrassed. Image source=online community

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A parody post of the words President Yoon said after his conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden in 2022 ("If these XX in the National Assembly don't approve it, how can we be embarrassed by ㅇㅇㅇ."). Image source=Online community

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A post by rapper Mamison on SNS. Image source=EX
Photo by EX

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A post criticizing former President Yoon Seokyeol for declaring martial law for his wife. Image source=X

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A post expressing ridicule after seeing the US presidential election results but realizing with alarm that a more dangerous situation has arisen in Korea. Image source=X

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