South Korea divided by martial law and MAGA influence

Photographer

Daniel Ceng

Category

Editorial Photography - Photojournalism

Company

Anadolu Agency

Submission Group

Professional

Year

2026

Country / Region

Turkey

The 2024–2025 martial law crisis not only saw a court severely vandalized for the first time in 35 years in South Korean history, but also revealed a level of societal and political polarization unseen since the country’s democratic transition in the late 1980s.



For many South Koreans, the declaration of martial law by then-president Yoon Suk Yeol revived painful memories of past authoritarian regimes, when military rule and the suspension of civil liberties were imposed.



Millions of citizens and civil society groups took to the streets in largely peaceful protests demanding Yoon’s impeachment over what they described as an unlawful use of martial law, accusing him of undermining democracy and reviving authoritarian rule.



Meanwhile, Yoon’s supporters—mostly influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rhetoric—resorted to extremism and violence in the hope of securing his release. Acts included self-immolation attempts and the vandalization of a Seoul court, with supporters arguing that martial law was necessary to defend democracy.



South Korea has since remained in a state of political deadlock following the martial law crisis, with the scars of polarization expected to persist in the near future.

Amateur
2026
2026 MUSE Photography Winner - Perrin Marie by Michael Potts

Photographer / Company

Michael Potts

Category

Minimalist Photography - Portraits

Country / Region

United States

Amateur
2026
2026 MUSE Photography Winner - the shoeshiner by Philipp Schmieja

Photographer / Company

Philipp Schmieja

Category

Film Photography - Documentary / Photojournalism

Country / Region

Germany

Professional
2026
2026 MUSE Photography Winner - Hundreds killed by typhoon Kalmaegi in Southeast Asia by Daniel Ceng
Anadolu Agency

Photographer / Company

Daniel Ceng

Category

Editorial Photography - General News

Country / Region

Turkey

Professional
2026
2026 MUSE Photography Winner - BODY ABSTRACTION PROJECT by Giò Tarantini

Photographer / Company

Giò Tarantini

Category

Fine Art Photography - Nudes

Country / Region

Italy