[Civil Diplomatic Letter No. 8]
Joint Appeal for the Defense of the Constitution and the Restoration of Liberal Democracy
헌법수호와 자유민주주의 회복을 위한 국내외 공동 호소문
The Republic of Korea is in the midst of a war without gunfire, a war of systems. We appeal for solidarity from the international community and compatriots at home and abroad to defend the liberal democratic system.
Respected compatriots at home and abroad, and citizens of the world who love freedom and justice,
Since the impeachment ruling against President Park Keun-hye, the Republic of Korea has faced an unresolved and grave constitutional crisis.
The rightful president was deprived of office, the separation of powers collapsed, and the succeeding authorities have distorted historical facts while seizing all state power.
These deceptive acts have been disguised domestically and internationally as a normal political process.
In reality, however, the Republic of Korea faces a great crisis: an attempt to dismantle the liberal democratic system built with blood and sweat from within.
We are witnessing the most dangerous “war without gunfire,” directly tied to the survival of the Republic of Korea.
The supreme values of the Constitution and the hierarchy of law have been gravely hollowed out, and the essence of separation of powers is under severe threat.
Many mistake the absence of gunfire for peaceful political activity, but this is the most fatal trap.
Attempts to destroy national identity from within and to paralyze the security system bring about a national catastrophe more terrifying than armed invasion.
If the security balance of the Korean Peninsula collapses and the identity of the Republic of Korea is altered, it will lead to the breakdown of peace in Northeast Asia and the collapse of the Indo-Pacific strategy.
The legitimacy of state power derives solely from absolute respect for the Constitution and due process.
Therefore, we urgently appeal to awaken domestic and international awareness and to defend the Republic of Korea as follows:
First, defending the Constitution and restoring constitutional order is salvation of the nation.
The Constitution is the supreme norm of the state to protect universal values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and human rights. When these values falter, the nation loses its foundation for existence.
The collapse of Korea’s constitutional system is not merely a domestic political issue but a direct threat to the global liberal democratic order.
Our people must clearly recognize today’s “lawless reality,” and foreign scholars and media must sternly denounce the breakdown of the rule of law in Korea.
Second, we must break free from the illusion that this is ordinary political activity.
The current situation is not a mere struggle between ruling and opposition parties or routine partisan politics.
It is a fundamental confrontation between patriotic forces defending the spirit of the Constitution and forces seeking to overthrow the system.
Third, constitutional order and separation of powers must be immediately normalized.
Judicial independence, legislative legitimacy, and administrative legality must never be privatized or distorted for partisan purposes.
The police and armed forces, the bulwark protecting the lives and safety of the people, must never become private soldiers of a regime. They must remain loyal only to the Constitution and the people.
Fourth, we call for strong civil diplomatic solidarity from the international community and overseas compatriots.
The Republic of Korea was liberated from Japanese imperialism in 1945 by the United States and founded in 1948 on the basis of liberal democracy and market economy.
During the Korean War (1950–1953), more than 2 million lives were lost, including about 620,000 Korean troops, 440,000 UN forces from 22 nations, and countless civilians, to defend this precious nation of freedom, democracy, and rule of law.
In today’s global ideological front, defending this is not only the task of the Korean people but the shared responsibility of all humanity who love freedom.
Korea’s liberal democracy has prospered on the solid trust of allies and the Korea–US alliance.
World media, academia, civil society, and international organizations must make Korea’s constitutional and security crisis an international agenda and join the civil diplomatic front to spread awareness.
The Republic of Korea is a great nation that won freedom and achieved prosperity through blood and sweat.
The transfer of wartime operational control will dismantle the Korea–US combined defense system and create a security vacuum on the Korean Peninsula.
This may trigger a fatal domino effect of insecurity: Japan’s security instability, the weakening of America’s Indo-Pacific strategy, and the collapse of trust in NATO and global alliances.
Defending the Constitution and safeguarding national identity is the sacred duty of all citizens. Constitutional defense begins with each citizen’s participation and sense of ownership.
We earnestly ask for the passionate solidarity of compatriots at home and abroad and citizens of the world who defend freedom, in response to this urgent cry: “Let us defend the Republic of Korea.”
A Korea that restores the Constitution and liberal democracy will become a model of global liberal order. Together with the international community, we will uphold truth and justice and defend the dignity of liberal democracy to the end.
Freedom and constitutional justice will surely prevail.
May 21, 2026
