In South Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law and its subsequent lifting within a few hours led to a major political crisis in the country. MPs called for Yoon’s dismissal, emphasizing that they were facing political instability.
In his televised speech at 23:00 local time, Yoon said he declared martial law to “protect the country from North Korea and anti-state forces.” However, he did not mention any concrete threats.
Immediately after the martial law announcement soldiers tried to enter the parliament buildingWhile military helicopters were flying, parliamentary officials intervened with fire extinguishers. These events attracted great reaction from the public and the opposition.
Parliamentary Vote and Lift of Martial Law
Martial law Just a few hours after its declaration, the 300-member parliament passed a unanimous decision, with 190 MPs demanding the lifting of martial law. 18 MPs from Yoon’s party also supported this decision. The crowd gathered in front of the Parliament welcomed this decision with joy.
South Korea According to the Constitution, martial law can be lifted upon the request of the parliamentary majority. After the vote, President Yoon announced on television again in the morning that he accepted the decision to lift martial law.
Legal Initiatives to Impeach the President
Opposition lawmakers demanded a vote within 72 hours to remove Yoon. Hwang Un-ha called on members of parliament to take immediate action to remove Yoon from office. Yoon’s advisors also suggested resigning en masse, and the President’s own party, the People’s Power Party, demanded that the entire cabinet and Defense Minister Kim Yong-un resign.
Unions Going on Strike and Public Reaction
The Korean Trade Union Confederation, the country’s largest labor union, Call for strike until Yoon resigns did. In South Korea, presidents can be dismissed with a two-thirds vote of the members of parliament, and then the trial process is initiated in the constitutional court. If six of the nine justices vote in favor of impeachment, the president can be removed from office.
Yoon’s Strategic Move: An Anti-democratic Tactic?
Yoon’s party has 108 seats in the 300-member parliament. If the President is removed from office, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will replace him and act until new elections are held within 60 days. Political observers viewed Yoon’s declaration of martial law as an anti-democratic tactic to fend off political attacks.
International Reactions and Calls for a Peaceful Solution
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that they welcomed Yoon’s lifting of martial law and said, “We expect political disputes to be resolved by peaceful methods and based on the rule of law.”
Yoon’s government has lost control of parliament in recent months, and the opposition has proposed a series of bills aimed at weakening power. Yoon’s practices are seen by political observers as a reflection of the country’s deepening political instability.
Who is South Korea’s Conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol?
Yoon Suk Yeol took office as President of South Korea in March 2022. Before the election, he gained recognition and popularity with the successful corruption case he filed against former President Park Geun-hye. This case stands out as one of the biggest corruption scandals in South Korea’s recent history.
Yoon’s political career was shaped along a conservative line. During his election campaign, he was compared to former US President Donald Trump due to his frequent gaffes and controversial statements. In particular, his statements about the Gwangju Massacre in 1980 are noteworthy. He described former President Chun Doo-hwan, who used violence against protesters, as a “good politician”, a statement that sparked widespread reactions.
Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Yoon has faced criticism regarding women’s rights in South Korea. The country is considered to have one of the worst women’s rights records in the developed world. Yoon promised to close the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to solve this problem and claimed that low birth rates were rising due to the increasing feminist movement.
North Korea and International Relations
In his election campaign, Yoon stated that new defense technologies should be developed against North Korea and that he would support the sanctions imposed against the North Korean regime. At the same time, he has said that he wishes to pursue a tougher foreign policy against China. Yoon announced that he plans to strengthen cooperation with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), which was established between the USA, Japan, India and Australia in order to balance China’s influence in the region.
After being elected, Yoon Suk Yeol made controversial decisions in domestic politics and took a harsh stance in foreign policy, especially regarding North Korea and China. Yoon, who draws attention with his bold and sometimes polemical statements both drinking and outside, continues to be an influential figure in South Korea’s political scene.
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