Backlash grows against South Korea’s Yoon after martial law decree

 

Members of main opposition Democratic Party stage a rally against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 4, 2024. The signs read "Let's impeach Yoon Suk Yeol ."

Seoul, South Korea —

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief declaration of martial law appeared to backfire Wednesday, as lawmakers prepared to begin impeachment proceedings and one of the country’s largest labor unions launched an indefinite general strike demanding his resignation.

In a late-night televised address, Yoon announced martial law, claiming it was necessary to “eradicate anti-state forces” and “protect constitutional order.” The declaration marked the first use of martial law since South Korea transitioned to democracy in the 1980s.

Hours later, the edict was overturned after lawmakers pushed past military and police forces that had surrounded parliament and rescinded the decree by a vote of 190-0. Facing overwhelming resistance, Yoon announced that martial law would be lifted.

The dramatic overnight events left many Seoul residents stunned and analysts scrambling to understand Yoon’s strategy, as well as the extent of the political fallout he now faces.

Early Wednesday, South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party announced it would begin impeachment proceedings if Yoon did not resign immediately.

South Korea\’s largest umbrella labor group, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, vowed to organize major anti-Yoon rallies and announced an indefinite strike until Yoon steps down.

Conservative backlash

In a particularly ominous sign for Yoon, many members of his conservative camp fiercely criticized the martial law declaration, with 18 members of his own People Power Party joining the parliamentary effort to overturn the decree.

In an editorial, the conservative Chosun Ilbo, the country’s largest newspaper, called the situation “absurd and unprecedented,” noting that “hardly anyone” agrees with Yoon’s rationale that the country was facing a national emergency.

"This martial law controversy has cast doubt on President Yoon\’s ability to remain in office,” said an editorial in the Joongang Ilbo, another conservative paper. “The previously unthinkable discussion of the president\’s impeachment has now become inevitable."

Yoon has not publicly responded to calls for his resignation. But Yoon’s senior aides, including his chief of staff and national security adviser, offered to resign on Wednesday, after the country’s ruling party chief called for them to step down.

Yoon weakened

Since taking office in May 2022, Yoon, a former chief prosecutor known for his blunt rhetoric, has faced fierce political battles with the opposition and suffered from persistently low approval ratings.

His critics have seized on corruption allegations involving his wife, Kim Keon-hee, and accused him of mistreating the media. In turn, Yoon has frequently portrayed his critics as North Korea sympathizers and "anti-state" forces who are trying to disrupt the normal operation of the government.

A woman reacts among police officers outside the National Assembly, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul, South Korea, December 4, 2024.

Videos of civilian resistance against the military circulated widely in South Korean media. In one clip, dozens of people surrounded an armored vehicle outside parliament, preventing further access. In another, aides and civilians sprayed fire extinguishers at military personnel attempting to breach an entrance, forcing them to retreat under the glare of journalists’ cameras.

As South Korean martial law troops left South Korea\’s National Assembly early Wednesday, one of the soldiers repeatedly bowed his head and said, "I\’m sorry,” according to a video posted on YouTube by a local journalist.

The dramatic scenes evoked memories of South Korea\’s authoritarian past, underscoring public resistance to any return to military rule and adding further pressure to Yoon’s already embattled presidency.

“I’m stunned by the news. I feel like I’ve been surrealistically teleported back to the Korea I first experienced as a U.S. diplomat in 1984,” said Rob Rapson, a former U.S. diplomat who served in numerous senior positions at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.

“I can’t fathom what possessed Yoon to announce martial law and think that he could get away with it in the dark of night. His stated reasons about eradicating ‘anti-state’ forces have little credibility [and] are indefensible,” he added.

The developments create an awkward dilemma for the outgoing Biden administration, which had closely aligned with Yoon on a shared vision of "values-based diplomacy." Together, they often stood in concert against authoritarian adversaries like China and Russia, emphasizing democracy, human rights, and the rule of law as central to their foreign policies.

On Tuesday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell expressed “grave concern” over the situation and said he was actively engaging with South Korean counterparts.

In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed Yoon’s decision to rescind martial law but stopped short of criticizing the South Korean leader.

South Korea, home to about 28,000 U.S. troops, remains one of Washington’s most critical allies in the region.

 

By：VOA