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President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea is in the middle of a political crisis after his sudden attempt to impose martial law brought fierce backlash from lawmakers and the general public. On Tuesday night, Yoon announced martial law, invoking the need to save the country from “North Korea’s communist forces” and to quash what he termed “anti-state elements.” But for many, it was an attempt to cling to power with slumping approval ratings and domestic scandals piling up.
The declaration that might have substituted military rule for civilian governance faced immediate opposition. Within hours, lawmakers had stormed the National Assembly-barricades broken, walls climbed-to hold an emergency session in which, led by Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, they voted to thwart Yoon’s declaration and send the president crawling back just two hours after making his announcement. Later, Woo would tell the BBC he acted out of the urgent need to “protect democracy.”
The fallout has been dramatic. On Wednesday, Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, a key figure in Yoon’s martial law plan, offered his resignation, apologizing for the chaos and pledging to take full responsibility. Opposition lawmakers, led by the Democratic Party, have initiated impeachment proceedings against both Yoon and Kim, with votes expected by the weekend.
Public outrage has also mounted. Thousands marched in downtown Seoul, chanting “Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol!” and holding candlelit vigils in freezing temperatures. Protesters accused the president of putting South Korea’s democracy in peril, with some calling for a nationwide strike. Opposition spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong made headlines after confronting armed soldiers at parliament, grabbing a soldier’s gun to stop their advance. “I just knew we had to stop this,” she told the BBC tearfully.
President Yoon barely won the presidency in 2022 and has since faced increasing criticism for his divisive leadership and scandals, including allegations involving his wife’s acceptance of luxury gifts. Observers speculate that Yoon declared martial law in desperation to consolidate power.
The situation has been drawing international attention, with NATO monitoring developments. With impeachment looming, Yoon’s fate is now uncertain: he could resign or get removed. In any case, these happenings are epoch-making for South Korea’s democratic history and a signal of the resilience of its institutions and people against authoritarian challenges.
