(MENAFN) South Korea commemorated Wednesday the one-year milestone since ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, with President Lee Jae Myung announcing plans to establish Dec. 3 as a national celebration of "people's sovereignty" following last year's tumultuous power grab attempt.

During a landmark address marking twelve months since the brief martial law episode, Lee proclaimed that South Korean citizens had demonstrated they are "fully deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize" by "defeating an unjust power" through nonviolent resistance, South Korean media reported.

Lee characterized the events as a "revolution of light," stating: "It was the first time since the beginning of the 21st century that a coup occurred in a democracy like South Korea. Equally unprecedented in world history, the coup was peacefully and beautifully prevented by the hands of unarmed citizens."

He continued: "Ironically, the Dec. 3 coup became an opportunity to showcase to the world the high level of civic consciousness of our people and the remarkable resilience of South Korea's democracy."

The administration emerging from this "revolution of light" will officially recognize Dec. 3 as National Sovereignty Day to commemorate citizens' bravery, Lee announced. At a subsequent media briefing, he revealed plans to designate it as an official public holiday.

Lee also addressed the controversy surrounding Yoon's government's alleged drone operations over Pyongyang to scatter anti-regime materials, expressing willingness to issue an apology to North Korea while acknowledging political obstacles, a news outlet indicated.

"On one side, I think we need to apologize, but on the other side, I worry that (an apology) could become an issue of political and ideological conflict, where the administration would be labeled pro-North Korea," he stated.

Wednesday also saw South Korea's Unification Ministry announce parliament's approval of legislation prohibiting propaganda distribution via unmanned aerial devices across the North Korean frontier.

The ministry declared in an official statement: "With the revision of the Aviation Safety Act, the distribution of anti-North leaflets that has hindered inter-Korean relations and threatened safety and peace in border regions is likely to be stopped."

In a separate development, 25 legislators from the opposition People Power Party released a collective mea culpa, condemning the Dec. 3 martial law as an "unconstitutional and undemocratic act."

Bowing in remorse, they stated: "We deeply apologize to the public, as members of the then ruling party, for failing to stop the martial law in advance and causing great pain and confusion."

These lawmakers pledged complete severance of political connections with Yoon and all individuals implicated in the martial law crisis.

Yoon activated martial law on Dec. 3 of last year, though legislators reversed the decree in under six hours. Impeachment and removal from office followed swiftly.

Authorities detained and charged him in January with power abuse and insurrection leadership—an unprecedented custody situation for an incumbent president.

A court directive secured his release in March. Nevertheless, July brought renewed detention that continues presently.

The Constitutional Court removed the former president from office in April, with the National Assembly validating his impeachment in December.

Prosecutors formally charged Yoon with insurrection and authority abuse related to the martial law proclamation.

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