South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol has been impeached after declaring martial law on December 3, a move that caught Western diplomats off guard. Diplomats say Yoon’s allies in Washington were blindsided by the action, which was seen as a drastic measure to root out perceived “anti-state forces”.
Yoon’s foreign policy stance, particularly towards China and North Korea, earned praise from the US for its democracy rhetoric. However, his domestic policies have been marked by controversy, including clashes with opposition lawmakers and criticism of press freedom.
The impeachment is likely to lead to a change in South Korea’s government, potentially bringing an end to Yoon’s “global pivotal state” approach, which aimed to promote freedom and human rights. The US and other Western countries are now hoping that the next president will uphold much of this policy in practice.
Analysts say that Yoon’s move was seen as a display of autocratic tendencies, despite his rhetoric on democracy. The incident has raised concerns about South Korea’s reputation as a vibrant democracy and its ability to balance its relationships with China and North Korea.
The US Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, described the move as “deeply surprising” and acknowledged that dramatic events can occur even in consolidated democracies. However, some experts argue that Western countries should have paid more attention to Yoon’s domestic issues, rather than ignoring them.
Yoon is set to be ousted by the Constitutional Court following his impeachment, which marks a significant shift in South Korea’s politics. The West will now hope for a more pragmatic approach from the next president on key issues like China and North Korea policy.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-allies-cheered-yoons-foreign-policy-ignored-domestic-discord-2024-12-19