South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in a surprising address to Seoul on Tuesday, declared emergency martial law, accusing the opposition-controlled parliament of sympathising with North Korea and paralysing the government.
“I will eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order,” Yoon said, calling on citizens to endure “some inconveniences” for the sake of national stability. He added, “Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea.”
Party leader Han Dong-hoon described the move as “wrong” and vowed to oppose it alongside the public. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, labelled the declaration “illegal and unconstitutional.”
Yoon has faced declining approval ratings since taking office in May 2022. His struggles to push through policies in a parliament dominated by opposition forces have exacerbated political divisions. The opposition has accused his administration of stifling independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials.
Influence-Peddling Scandal
In early November, Yoon denied amid a growing influence-peddling scandal involving him and his wife, Kim Keon Hee. The controversy had sharply impacted his approval ratings and provided political ammunition for his rivals. The scandal revolves around allegations that Yoon and Kim improperly influenced the conservative People Power Party’s candidate selection for a 2022 parliamentary by-election, at the request of election broker Myung Tae-kyun, who conducted surveys for Yoon before his presidency.
Leaked phone conversations from Myung reveal he boasted about his influence over the presidential couple and other top party officials. Yoon, during a press conference, denied any inappropriate involvement, claiming he never interfered in the nomination process and had not asked Myung for help. The Democratic Party criticised his response, calling it arrogant and self-righteous. The polls then showed Yoon’s approval falling below 20%.
Learning golf ahead of meeting Trump and spring onion incident
Yoon has also faced international and domestic backlash for a series of missteps. Notably, he sparked online ridicule after visiting a food market earlier this year and praising the “reasonable” price of spring onions in a heavily subsidised area. Critics argued that the incident highlighted his detachment from the public’s struggles amid soaring inflation.
“The president is going to be brought down by a spring onion,” one of the opposition leaders had said.
After Donald Trump won the US election paving way for his return to Washington, Yoon said that he would be resuming golf lessons to prepare for meetings with Donald Trump. “A lot of people close to President Trump… (told me) President Yoon and Trump will have good chemistry,” Yoon said, hinting at his efforts to strengthen ties with the former US president.
Who is Yoon Suk Yeol?
- Born in Seoul in 1960, Yoon studied law at Seoul National University and began his career as a prosecutor in 1994.
- He gained prominence for investigating corruption, including cases involving former President Park Geun-hye.
- Yoon transitioned to politics in 2021, joining the conservative People Power Party and winning the presidency in 2022.
- Known for his hawkish stance on North Korea and a no-compromise approach, which has led to local media drawn comparing him to figures like Winston Churchill.
- Struggles with legislative inexperience, a divided government, and controversies involving his family and administration have defined his tenure.