The South Korean president has declared martial law. Just when you think things are rolling along, events ef things up.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls the country’s parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea.Hours later, parliament voted to lift the declaration, with the National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring that lawmakers “will protect democracy with the people.” Woo called for police and military personnel to withdraw from the Assembly’s grounds.
The president’s surprising move harkened back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and it was immediately denounced by the opposition and the leader of Yoon’s own conservative party.
Following Yoon’s announcement, South Korea’s military proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” would be suspended, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
Maybe Yoon's claim is correct. But if it is just political disagreements, this is really bad.
Events, dear boy, events, can screw up your assumptions and plans.
UPDATE: This does not look good:
While South Korea’s constitution says martial law can be overturned by a parliamentary vote, military officials have said so far that martial law will remain in place until Yoon lifts it, according to local reports.
Luckily North Korea's army is in shambles so exploiting this chaos will be difficult. And North Korea sold its ammo reserves to Russia. That said, Seoul is right on the border. North Korea has a short field to play offense on. I hope the ROK army isn't sent into turmoil in this crisis.
UPDATE: Huh:
South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol says he will lift martial law after parliament voted to block it[.]
Just what did it achieve? If Yoon follows through, of course. This seems seriously effed up.
UPDATE: Still unclear what Yoon thinks he can achieve. He can wreck a lot.
UPDATE: It appears to be over after Yoon lifted the brief martial law. All of his cabinet and aides offered to resign. The defense minister resigned and accepted all responsibility for the 6-hour period of martial law. Yoon has been impeached and the Constitutional Court has six months to decide.
How Yoon himself doesn't resign is hard to see. Protesters haven't dispersed and demand his resignation.
Seriously, just what did Yoon think he could accomplish with this move?
UPDATE: Oh, FFS:
Yoon apparently meant for the declaration to break the political impasse gripping the South Korean government. Yoon’s administration has been at loggerheads with the parliament, where the opposition Democratic Party holds a majority, over several critical pieces of legislation, most notably the 2025 budget bill. The stalemate has left the government unable to address pressing issues involving the economy and disruptions to public services. Compounding the crisis were Democratic Party efforts to impeach prosecutors who opted in October not to charge Yoon’s wife over allegations of investment fraud and accepting inappropriate gifts. Besides the political gridlock, strikes by junior doctors and other health care workers have impeded the delivery of essential medical services and contributed to the sense of crisis. All this, according to Yoon, amounted to an attempt by “anti-state” forces and North Korea sympathizers to disrupt the constitutional order.
That's why Yoon declared a half-ass martial law?
Maybe a better response to the opposition obstruction would be a deeper understanding of Robert's Rules of Order and a media blitz to gain some public support.
UPDATE: His allies want his resignation:
South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law, as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers.
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NOTE: The image is from a Reuters story.
