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December 4, 2024 | 11:12 am
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a surprising speech in Seoul on Tuesday, announced a martial law. He accused the opposition-controlled parliament of sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the government.
"I will eradicate pro-North Korea forces and protect constitutional democracy," said Yoon, urging citizens to endure "discomfort" for national stability. He added, "Through this martial law, I will rebuild and protect a free Republic of Korea."
According to Times of India, Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the party, described the move as "wrong" and vowed to oppose it along with the public. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, called the declaration "illegal and unconstitutional."
Yoon has faced a decline in approval ratings since taking office in May 2022. His struggles to push policies in a parliament dominated by opposition forces have worsened political divisions. The opposition accuses his administration of obstructing independent investigations into a scandal involving his wife and senior officials.
Influence Peddling Scandal
In early November, amid a growing influence-peddling scandal involving him and his wife, Yoon denied involvement. This controversy has sharply impacted his approval ratings and given political ammunition to his competitors. The scandal revolves around allegations that Yoon and Kim inappropriately influenced the selection of conservative People Power Party candidates for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections, at the request of election mediator Myung Tae-kyun, who conducted surveys for Yoon before his presidency.
Wiretapped phone conversations from Myung revealed his boasting about his influence over the president and other senior party officials. Yoon, in a press conference, denied inappropriate involvement, claiming he never interfered in the nomination process or sought Myung's help. The Democratic Party criticized his response, calling it arrogant and self-righteous. Subsequent polls showed Yoon's approval rating dropping below 20%.
Scallion Incident
Yoon also faced harsh criticism domestically and internationally for a series of missteps. In particular, he sparked online ridicule after visiting a food market earlier this year and praising the "reasonable" price of scallions in a heavily subsidized area. Critics argue that the incident highlighted his indifference to the struggles of the people amid rising inflation.
"The president will be brought down by scallions," said one opposition leader.
Wife and Mother-In-Law Controversy
Yoon Suk Yeol's reputation took a further hit last year when his wife was secretly filmed receiving a US$2,000 designer handbag as a gift. Yoon defended her, stating it would be impolite to refuse.
His mother-in-law, Choi Eun-soon, is serving a one-year prison sentence for forging financial documents in a real estate deal. She is set to be released in July.
Earlier this year, Yoon became the subject of a petition calling for his impeachment, which proved to be highly popular, causing delays and damages to the parliamentary website hosting the petition.
Golf Lessons Ahead of Trump Meeting
After Donald Trump won the U.S. election and paved the way for a return to Washington, Yoon announced he would resume golf lessons to prepare for a meeting with Donald Trump.
"Many people close to President Trump... (told me) President Yoon and Trump will have good chemistry," Yoon said, indicating his effort to strengthen ties with the former U.S. president.
Trump's return as U.S. president - who once held a historic yet ultimately failed meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un while in office - could create new tensions, experts say.
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.
According to Channel News Asia, throughout his career, he was known as an anti-corruption crusader, playing a crucial role in the conviction of former President Park Geun-hye for power abuse.
As the country's top prosecutor in 2019, he also indicted a key aide to President Moon Jae-in, who was soon to leave office, in a bribery and fraud case that tarnished the government's image.
The conservative People Power Party (PPP), which was in opposition at the time, liked what they saw and convinced Yoon to be their presidential candidate.
He won in March 2022, defeating Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party but with a very slim margin in the history of South Korea.
Yoon is known for his tough stance on North Korea and an uncompromising approach, leading local media to compare him to figures like Winston Churchill.
However, throughout his presidency, Yoon Suk Yeol has never truly been beloved. A series of scandals - including his government's handling of a deadly Halloween attack in 2022 - have further eroded his popularity. Now, after enforcing a brief martial law, he faces impeachment threats.
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