South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Future Uncertain After Martial Law Declaration

The political standing of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is precarious following a tumultuous night where he unexpectedly imposed martial law, only to revoke it with equal swiftness, thereby creating national unrest. Yoon, who secured the presidency by a narrow margin in 2022, was already facing significant public disapproval and increasing scrutiny after his party’s defeat in the April parliamentary elections, which were widely seen as a referendum on his administration. His tenure has also been troubled by personal issues. The previous month, he issued a televised apology to the country for multiple controversies involving his wife, such as the alleged receipt of a luxury Dior handbag and accusations of stock manipulation. Currently, he is confronted with calls for his resignation, and legislators have indicated their intention to initiate impeachment proceedings against him. The brief effort to implement martial law on Tuesday night caught everyone off guard. This prompted lawmakers to rush to the National Assembly in Seoul to cast votes opposing the decree. Concurrently, police had gathered outside, where thousands of demonstrators had assembled in anger. The very same crowd cheered enthusiastically when Yoon reversed his decision within hours, announcing the withdrawal of the martial law order. The fact that he would engage in such a risky maneuver, only to retract it with such ease, astonished both South Koreans and the international community. Yoon entered the presidency as a relatively inexperienced politician. He gained national recognition for his role in prosecuting the corruption case against the disgraced former President Park Geun-hye in 2016. In 2022, the political newcomer secured a narrow victory over his liberal rival Lee Jae-myung by a margin of less than 1% of the votes, marking the tightest election outcome in the nation since direct elections commenced in 1987. During a period when South Korean society was contending with increasing polarization concerning gender matters, Yoon attracted young male voters by campaigning on an anti-feminism stance. Don S Lee, an associate professor of public administration at Sungkyunkwan University, stated that people held “high hopes” for Yoon upon his election. He added, “Those who voted for Yoon believed that a new government under Yoon will pursue such values as principle, transparency and efficiency.” Yoon has also advocated for an aggressive approach towards North Korea. The communist nation was referenced by Yoon on Tuesday night during his attempt to declare martial law. He asserted the necessity to safeguard against North Korean forces and “eliminate anti-state elements,” despite it being clear from the beginning that his declaration was primarily driven by internal challenges rather than the perceived threat from the North. Yoon is recognized for making verbal missteps, which have negatively impacted his approval ratings. During his 2022 campaign, he was compelled to retract a remark suggesting that authoritarian president Chun Doo-hwan, who imposed martial law and was responsible for massacring protestors in 1980, had been “good at politics”. Subsequently that year, he was obliged to refute accusations of insulting the US Congress in comments uttered after a meeting with US President Joe Biden in New York. He was recorded on a live microphone and captured on video appearing to refer to US lawmakers using a Korean term that can be rendered as “idiots” or a more forceful expression. The video rapidly gained widespread attention in South Korea. Yoon has achieved some foreign policy successes, particularly in enhancing relations in his nation’s historically strained dealings with Japan. Yoon’s time in office has been embroiled in controversy. A significant portion of this has revolved around his wife, Kim Keon Hee, who faced allegations of corruption and influence peddling, primarily concerning the alleged acceptance of a Dior bag from a pastor. In November, Yoon issued an apology on his wife’s behalf, simultaneously dismissing demands for an inquiry into her actions. However, his public support as president stayed unstable. In early November, his approval ratings plummeted to 17%, marking the lowest point since the start of his term. In April, the opposition Democratic Party secured a decisive victory in the parliamentary election, inflicting a severe setback on Yoon and his People Power Party. Yoon was effectively rendered a lame-duck president, resorting to vetoing legislation approved by the opposition, a strategy he employed with “unprecedented frequency,” according to Celeste Arrington, director of The George Washington University Institute for Korean Studies. This week, the opposition significantly cut the budget proposed by the government and the ruling party, and this budget bill is not subject to a presidential veto. Concurrently, the opposition was initiating impeachment proceedings against cabinet members, primarily targeting the head of the government audit agency, due to their alleged failure to investigate the first lady. Faced with mounting political pressures, Yoon opted for an extreme measure – a decision that hardly anyone could have foreseen. Dr Arrington noted, “Many observers worried in recent weeks about a political crisis because of the confrontation between the president and the opposition-controlled National Assembly,” adding, “though few predicted such an extreme move as declaring martial law.” Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, characterized President Yoon’s martial law declaration as a “legal overreach and a political miscalculation”. Dr Easley informed the BBC, “With extremely low public support and without strong backing within his own party and administration, the president should have known how difficult it would be to implement his late-night decree.” He further stated, “He sounded like a politician under siege, making a desperate move against mounting scandals, institutional obstruction, and calls for impeachment, all of which are now likely to intensify.” Yoon has provoked anger from politicians across the spectrum, as lawmakers, some from his own party, quickly convened and voted to revoke martial law on Tuesday night. The opposition Democratic Party is seeking to impeach Yoon, and even the leadership of Yoon’s own party has called for the president to leave the party. According to Yonhap news agency, Yoon’s senior advisors collectively offered their resignations on Wednesday. Opposition leader Lee expressed optimism, informing reporters that Yoon’s “illegal declaration of martial law” represents a “decisive opportunity to break the vicious cycle and return to normal society”. The consequences of Tuesday night are expected to extend beyond South Korea’s boundaries. Yoon’s declaration has alarmed South Korea’s allies. US officials, from a crucial allied nation, stated they were surprised by Yoon’s announcement and are pressing South Korea to resolve the crisis “in accordance with the rule of law”. Japan has indicated it is observing the situation in South Korea with “exceptional and serious concerns”. Concurrently, North Korea, which has escalated tensions with the South in recent months, might “attempt to exploit divisions in Seoul,” Dr Easley remarked. Widespread anger continues across South Korea. On Wednesday, demonstrators poured into the streets to denounce Yoon. One of the nation’s largest labor unions, boasting over one million members, is urging workers to strike until his resignation. Yoon’s next steps remain uncertain. He has not made a public appearance since the incident. Former South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha informed the BBC Newsday programme, “He was increasingly unpopular for the way he has dealt with the problems that have been raised with his own conduct and the conduct of the first lady.” She added, “The ball is in the president’s court to find a way out of this corner that he has put himself in.” Regardless of how Yoon decides to proceed, his failed martial law declaration could already be proving to be the final catalyst that destabilizes his precarious presidency. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.