The world watched as events in South Korea seemed to spiral out of control on one surreal day in early December.

On the morning of December 4, people in the United States and beyond awoke to the shocking news that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol had declared martial law the previous night, and that it had already been lifted by 4:30 a.m. This whirlwind of events left many questioning what was really going on in the East Asian nation.

When Mr. Yoon imposed martial law late on Tuesday evening South Korea time, he vowed to eliminate “anti-state” forces in his struggle against an opposition that controls parliament. He also accused them of sympathizing with communist North Korea.

Under South Korea’s constitution, a president can declare martial law during “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states” that require the use of military force to maintain peace.

The order saw troops surround parliament. Lawmakers fought to get into the building and once they were in, they voted to reject military rule. One woman tried unsuccessfully to pull a rifle away from a soldier while shouting, “Aren’t you embarrassed?”

Police and military personnel were then seen leaving the grounds of parliament following the bipartisan vote, and the declaration was formally lifted around 4:30 a.m.

Martial law was in effect for only about six hours, yet it had a big impact on South Korea’s government.

Some observers found relief in the decree’s swift reversal, noting that the situation could have been far worse. Yet there is still lasting damage.

Kang Won-taek, a professor of political science and international studies at Seoul National University, observed the following in a Korea JoongAng Daily article: “While our democracy has withstood this serious challenge, it has exposed the fragility and weakness of the governance system. It highlighted how unstable and fragile a system relying on a single person can be.”

The weeks and months following the decree have also been chaotic. Mr. Yoon was quickly impeached. The replacement acting president, Han Duck-soo, was also impeached. Mr. Yoon and local armed forces had a standoff at the presidential residence before the president went into custody and was indicted. His supporters have been protesting in the streets on his behalf. Who will govern the nation going forward remains to be seen.

South Korea’s political turmoil spotlights the fragile nature of its democracy. And it teaches a lesson that can be applied to any human government.

Democratic History

People around the world may not think a lot about South Korea and its politics. In recent decades, many have simply regarded the nation as a stable Western ally, a good example of democracy in contrast to the provocative and confrontational North Korea, which is ruled by dictatorship. However, those familiar with South Korea’s history know that democracy is a relatively recent development. It was led by a series of dictators until 1987. For some citizens, December 4 brought back bad memories of earlier periods of governance.

Natalia Slavney, research analyst at the Stimson Center’s 38 North website that focuses on Korean affairs, said Mr. Yoon’s imposition of martial law was “a serious backslide of democracy.”

A CNN article added more context: “Martial law is unheard of in the modern democratic era, which has seen South Korea become a major exporter and a cultural powerhouse, thanks in part to the huge global popularity of K-pop and K-drama.

“But South Korea has a dark political past. Throughout much of the Cold War, the country went through a series of strongman leaders and military rulers, who declared martial law multiple times—sometimes in a bid to hold onto power amid growing public dissatisfaction.”

While recent events do call to mind South Korea’s authoritarian past, it would be a mistake to say this is the only rough spot in the nation’s democratic track record. Past presidents have seen their political careers end in an undignified manner, with several being charged with corruption and jailed, and one even committing suicide upon being investigated for bribery.

South Korea “has a robust history of political pluralism and is no stranger to mass protests and swift impeachments,” Ms. Slavney said, citing the example of former President Park Geun-hye, the country’s first female president, who was ousted from office and imprisoned for bribery and other crimes in 2017.

Political Aftermath

From trade and diplomacy to markets and budgets, South Korea has struggled to contain the fallout from the night of martial law. The country is also navigating an uncertain future with its ally the United States under the new leadership of President Donald Trump.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul emphasized that South Korea must work tirelessly to restore international trust following the martial law crisis. He noted that it had come at a time when threats are increasing, including from North Korea’s deepening military ties with Russia.

“While this may take time, we must be steadfast and earnest as we devote our diplomatic efforts to rebuilding trust,” he said.

Former trade minister Yeo Han-koo, who previously worked with the Trump and Biden administrations, said he was worried about a power vacuum in South Korea at a time when the presidential office and government should be working with industries to prepare responses to Mr. Trump’s plans, which will directly impact Korea’s export-reliant economy and companies, including chipmakers and battery makers.

“Considering the tariff disruption expected under the Trump administration, strong government leadership and bold policy action are needed,” he said. “But Korea is in turmoil.”

South Korea also faced political upheaval with the impeachment and removal of then-President Park in a corruption scandal in 2016 and 2017 just as Mr. Trump was elected the first time, but the current chaos is worse, Mr. Yeo said. “The uncertainty is a huge distraction,” he added.

The Road Ahead

As of this writing, Mr. Yoon is putting up a desperate fight for his political life at Seoul’s Constitutional Court. After weeks of hearings, the court was nearing a decision on whether to formally remove him from office.

This legal saga—including a separate criminal indictment for rebellion—has put South Korea’s democracy to the test, exposing deepening political polarization and public distrust.

Mr. Yoon’s conservative supporters rioted at a Seoul court that authorized his arrest. And his lawyers and ruling party have openly questioned the credibility of courts and law enforcement institutions.

Much is at stake: If Mr. Yoon is dismissed, a presidential by-election will follow, testing public confidence in the electoral process. If reinstated, however, widespread unrest could erupt if the public perceives the decision as unjust.

A Foreign Affairs article stated the following about South Korea’s future: “South Korea’s immediate crisis will likely end in the months ahead. The Constitutional Court is expected to uphold Yoon’s impeachment: if it does, Koreans will then trudge back to the polls, since an election would have to be held within 60 days of such a ruling. And that election will be the Democrats’ to lose…[but] liberals are facing troubles of their own. Their most powerful politician, the party leader and legislator Lee Jae-myung, faces a swarm of indictments, mostly stemming from a controversial development project during his years as a city mayor…if the Supreme Court upholds the guilty verdict before a snap election is held, Lee will be disqualified from running, and the Democrats will suddenly be without an obvious front-runner.”

The author went on to describe various reforms that South Korea needs to be able to govern itself, and acknowledged that some changes, such as revising the constitution, would be difficult. The challenges faced by the nation go beyond simply who occupies the office of the presidency.

An article in The Korea Times summed up the nation’s future this way: “Korea stands at a crossroads. Its people and leaders must now decide which path to take: one of accountability, reform and unity, or one of division, distrust and further turmoil. The world is watching.”

Government’s Biblical Roots

Whether Mr. Yoon comes back into power or a different leader rises, it is uncertain how the nation will move forward. Even with democracy’s challenges, few South Koreans would seriously consider returning to authoritarian rule.

Despite its flaws and fragility, democracy is still widely seen as the best available system.

Leaders of many nations have grappled with this over the decades. In one of the most famous statements about democracy, British statesman Winston Churchill once said: “Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time…”

Churchill recognized democracy’s flaws but saw it as the least bad option. Put another way: Democracy is the worst form of government—except for all the others.

It is interesting that Churchill also referred to a “world of sin.” It is rare today to hear a politician use a biblical term like sin. What you may not have realized is that government is just as much a biblical term.

The Bible shows that God will set up a Kingdom on Earth. Read Daniel 2:44. This Kingdom is plainly described as a government: “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever” (Isa. 9:7).

The word “Kingdom” simply means government. Any time you read about the Kingdom of God in the Bible, it means the government of God. Government is integral to God’s Plan. None of the amazing changes that will take place in the world to come, such as all people being taught God’s Way (Isa. 2:3; 30:21; Mic. 4:5), global peace (Isa. 2:4), a pure language being established (Zeph. 3:9), and others, are possible without this fundamental change in government worldwide.

God’s Guidance

Throughout Scripture, God records many lessons about the shortcomings of human governance. These lessons can be seen in the lives of individuals, as well as nations like ancient Israel. This is contrasted to the good effects of what happens when people allow themselves to be governed by God’s laws and principles.

The prophet Jeremiah made clear that human beings cannot successfully govern themselves without God: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps. O Lord, correct me, but with judgment…” (10:23-24).

Only with God’s guidance can people govern successfully. Without it, even the best human governments ultimately fail.

Editor-in-Chief David C. Pack expanded on how important government is to God in his book The True Jesus Christ – Unknown to Christianity: “Government is the glue that keeps the world together. Families cannot properly function without it. Neither can nations, armies, institutions, companies, churches, schools, teams, organizations or clubs—nor virtually any entity of more than one person. Where there is no government, there is no order—only chaos, confusion and everyone doing ‘that which [is] right in his own eyes’ (Judg. 17:6)…God preserves His entire creation through government and law—and both the Earth and the universe reflect this.”

Mr. Pack continued, “The Bible, above all else, is a book about government…consider just these biblical accounts—all of which relate to government: Lucifer’s rebellion against God’s government, Adam’s similar decision when he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, how God governed ancient Israel (Moses, Joshua, the judges, kings and prophets, etc.), Korah’s rebellion, Saul’s rebellion, how Christ qualified to replace Satan, why the governments of this world do not and have never worked, and the coming of God’s world-ruling supergovernment, administered by Christ and the saints, to replace men’s governments and bring peace, happiness, abundance and prosperity to all nations.

“All of these examples—and more—make this subject central to the Bible!”

To learn much more about this world-ruling supergovernment and what it will be like, read our free booklet What Is the Kingdom of God?

This article contains information from The Associated Press.