Just hours after declaring martial rule, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared he would suspend it on Wednesday. In a short and perplexing statement, he accused the opposition of being “anti-state forces” that were endangering the nation’s democracy.
The United States and South Korea’s other allies were startled by Yoon’s sudden decision, which was the first time martial law had been imposed in the country in almost 40 years.
What happened next?
Following the lawmakers’ vote, Yoon backed down. His cabinet additionally approved the motion to lift the order, Yonhap news agency reported.
“Just a moment ago, there was a demand from the National Assembly to lift the state of emergency, and we have withdrawn the military that was deployed for martial law operations,” Yoon said in a televised address around 4:30 am (1930 GMT Tuesday).
Under South Korea’s constitution, the parliamentary vote to lift martial law has to be respected.
Why did Yoon do this?
Yoon said he was acting to safeguard his country’s liberal democracy from “anti-state elements” and “threats posed by North Korea” — but gave little detail.
While unexpected, the announcement came in the context of a festering budget row between Yoon and the opposition Democratic Party.
The opposition has slashed around 4.1 trillion won ($2.8 billion) from Yoon’s proposed 677 trillion won budget for next year, prompting the president to complain that “all key budgets essential to the nation’s core functions” were being cut.
“What is clear is that Yoon has been a deeply unpopular, ineffectual leader and he is having a hard time getting any kind of public support for anything he’s trying to do,” said Alan Yu, a former US diplomat in Asia now at the Center for American Progress.
“The use of martial law feels almost like a desperation move to try to break out, both in a political and policy sense, but it is really poorly played on both fronts.”
What is next for Yoon?
Yoon’s late-night bombshell has further increased domestic pressure on him. The biggest opposition party in South Korea has accused Yoon of “insurrection” and called for his resignation.
The “irrational and anti-democratic measure” has also prompted the nation’s major labor union group to call for a “indefinite general strike” until he steps down.
Yoon’s own People Power Party called his effort to impose martial law “tragic” and called for accountability from those responsible.
Get the latest news updates and stay informed with FELA NEWS!
Source: NDTV World
