Opposition parties in South Korea’s Parliament announced on Wednesday, December 4, that they had filed an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol, after his failed attempt to impose martial law. A surprising decision for the Korean press which “casts doubt on its political future”, according to The Korea Times. English-speaking newspaper of the country. The deputies will later decide the date of the vote on this motion, which could take place as early as Friday, indicated the six opposition parties during a joint press conference. It will require a two-thirds majority to be adopted.
Yoon Sur Yeol, who won the “closest presidential election in Korean history in 2022”, contextualizes The Korea Timeshad an extremely low popularity rating. And this is not likely to get better with this abortive martial law decided during a surprise speech late Tuesday where he accused the opposition of constituting “forces hostile to the State” against a backdrop of disagreement over the budget. In the process, troops were deployed and army helicopters landed on the roof of parliament, but MPs were able to meet in haste to adopt a resolution demanding the repeal of the measure, to which Yoon Suk- yeol finally resolved after several hours. At the same time, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of parliament to demand the withdrawal of the text and the resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol.
The imposition of martial law, a first in more than 40 years in the country, involved the suspension of political life as well as the closure of parliament and the placing under control of the media. This act generated concern and disapproval around the world, particularly from the United States, Seoul’s main ally against North Korea, and from China. For his part, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who was due to hold a summit with Yoon this week, will not participate in the planned visit, his spokesperson said on Wednesday.
His party demands explanations
Even in Yoon Suk-yeol’s camp, reactions are cold. The People’s Power Party (PPP) admitted on Wednesday that the head of state should be held accountable. “The president must explain this tragic situation immediately and in detail,” the head of his party criticized on television. Han Dong-hoon. The president’s chief of staff and important advisers “submitted their resignations en masse” in the morning, according to the national agency Yonhap. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the country’s largest inter-union organization with some 1.2 million members, called for an “indefinite general strike” until Yoon Suk Yeo’s resignation, saying he had “signed his own end in power.” At midday, the leader had still not reappeared in public.
In the wake of the proclamation of martial law, 190 parliamentarians voted against the measure, while special forces soldiers attempted to enter the session room. In total, more than 280 soldiers broke into the institution, according to Yonhap. In front of the building, sealed overnight, demonstrators shouted: “Stop Yoon Suk-yeol!”, noted AFP journalists. “Why did we have to come here after working all day, in the middle of the week?” shouted a demonstrator. “It’s because of this senseless martial law decreed by Yoon, who has gone crazy,” cried another protester, cheered by hundreds of people.
“Eliminate elements hostile to the State”
Yoon Suk-yeol finally decided to announce on television the lifting of martial law and the withdrawal of troops deployed in the capital, sparking cries of joy from the demonstrators. At the request of the National Assembly, “we proceeded with the withdrawal of the soldiers who had been deployed for martial law operations”, he said at 4:30 a.m. local time (8:30 p.m. French time). The army had insisted that it would only obey the orders of the president. Late Tuesday, Yoon Suk-yeol in a surprise speech explained his choice to resurrect a law last activated in 1980, when hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against a military coup. Demonstrations bloodily repressed.
In the context of difficulties in adopting the budget, Yoon Suk-yeol justified the measure on Tuesday by saying he wanted to “eliminate elements hostile to the state” and “protect liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korean communist forces “. Among other things, he pointed out a “legislative dictatorship” and accused the elected representatives of the opposition of blocking “all budgets essential to the primary functions of the nation”. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost the presidential election to Yoon Suk-yeol in 2022, described the measure imposed by him as “illegal” and called for demonstrations in front of parliament.
The White House said it was unaware of Yoon Suk-yeol’s intentions. The United Nations and the United Kingdom have also expressed concern, while China has called on its nationals in South Korea to exercise caution. Moscow, which has strengthened its ties with North Korea over its war in Ukraine, deemed the situation “alarming”. Japan for its part said on Wednesday it was monitoring the situation with “exceptional and serious concern”.