South Korea’s president declared martial law on Tuesday night for the first time in nearly 50 years, citing threats from North Korea. However, the move was largely driven by his own domestic struggles and was met with widespread opposition.
President Yoon Suk Yeol’s decision to impose martial law sparked protests outside parliament, with thousands of people gathering to demand its removal. The opposition party accused Yoon of trying to suppress their activities and undermine democracy.
Yoon had been facing intense pressure from the public due to corruption scandals, a falling approval rating, and his government’s inability to pass key legislation. The opposition party moved to impeach him earlier this week, citing his “insurrectionary behavior.”
After parliament voted down the martial law measure, Yoon accepted defeat and lifted the order. The country’s largest opposition party will now vote on whether to formally impeach Yoon over his actions.
The move has raised concerns about South Korea’s democratic system and reputation, with experts warning that it may be more damaging than the US’s January 6th riots. “Yoon’s declaration of martial law appeared to be both legal overreach and a political miscalculation, unnecessarily risking South Korea’s economy and security,” said Leif-Eric Easley at Ewha University.
The situation remains volatile, with Yoon facing growing pressure from the opposition party and the public. The outcome is uncertain, but one thing is clear: South Korea’s democratic system has been put to the test in a major way.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0lgw1pw5zpo