PETALING JAYA: Although the shock imposition of martial law has been lifted in South Korea, Malaysians there remain vigilant to any developments while calm has returned.
Malaysians staying in that country, however, share the local folk’s concerns following South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of emergency martial law on late Tuesday, which was quickly revoked by early yesterday.Yoon’s controversial move was the first such measure invoked in South Korea in over 40 years.
A Malaysian postgraduate student said she was worried about the situation and was keeping abreast of developments.
“Martial law hasn’t happened since the Gwangju uprising and subsequent military crackdown,” said the student who wished to be known only as Zira.
“As a foreigner here, we did not receive any instructions on what to do when it (martial law) was first announced on Tuesday night,” said Zira, who stays in the southern city of Busan.
She added that she was staying in contact with her Korean friends for updates while monitoring the latest news, although nothing major occurred around her vicinity. The 28-year-old said her friends saw military helicopters hovering over Seoul.
Another Malaysian, Norul Izzati Bakri, a marketing executive in Seoul, claimed that after the declaration of martial law, she was constantly glued to social media for news.
“Surprisingly, everything seemed normal when I came to work in Gangnam today,” she said when contacted yesterday, referring to the popular hub for tourists and luxury shopping. “When commuting to work, I noticed that the subway train was not as packed as usual.”
Meanwhile, the lifting of martial law has calmed Malaysian holidaymakers.
One of them, social media influencer Ryzal Ibrahim, 32, said he noticed a heavy police presence around Seoul.
“Malaysians here should be aware of the current situation and always carry their passports and identification cards everywhere they go. However, it does not seem like a major shift for everyone, as even the Koreans are carrying on with their daily routines.”Ryzal said visitors faced no restrictions for now.
Hee May Yee expressed her deep concern in the wake of the initial announcement of martial law in South Korea.
“At first we were very confused and shocked about the news, as South Korea hasn’t declared an emergency since the 1980s, so we definitely felt a sense of worry.
“Thankfully, as of this morning, things seemed to have returned to normal with the order lifted. I don’t think it’s going to affect my Christmas holidays,” said the 25-year-old yesterday.
Malaysian Tourism Federation president Datuk Tan Kok Liang advised Malaysians there to remain vigilant and stay updated with the news.
Malaysians residing in or visiting South Korea are advised to register their presence through E-Konsular and may contact the Malaysian Embassy at 129, Dokseodang-ro Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04419, through its general line at +82-2-2077 8600 or +82-2-794 5488, or e-mail mwseoul@kln.gov.my.
