The head of the National Police Investigation Department, Woo Kong-soo, told the deputies that the police had begun investigating President Yoon Suk-yeol Charged with “rebellion” because of his announcement Martial law For a few hours Tuesday evening before she forced him Legislative authority To raise it.
What happened in South Korea?
- In a surprise television speech broadcast late Monday night, Yoon announced the imposition of martial law in the country.
- Yoon justified the move by the need to protect South Korea from “communist forces” and confront “anti-state” elements.
- Yoon pointed to moves by the opposition Democratic Party, which controls parliament, to remove top prosecutors and reject the government’s budget proposal, considering that these actions “threaten the country’s stability.”
- “To protect,” Yoon said in his speech South Korea Liberalization of the threats posed by communist forces in North Korea and the elimination of anti-state elements. Hereby declared Emergency andMartial law“.
- Following this announcement, the Minister of Defence Kim Young Hyun By holding an emergency meeting of senior military leaders, calling for raising the level of vigilance and remaining on maximum alert.
- According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, security measures around Parliament have been beefed up, hindering lawmakers’ entry into the building.
- Authorities in South Korea closed Parliament building in SeoulThe helicopters landed on its roof after martial law was declared, according to Yonhap.
- Within hours of the announcement, Parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, unanimously passed a motion to lift martial law, including all 18 members of Yuen’s party present, and the president then rescinded the declaration.
- Protesters outside the National Assembly chanted “We won!”, clapped and beat drums.
- The developments come at a time when Yoon is witnessing a decline in his government’s popularity, as he has difficulty passing his political agenda in Parliament, which has been controlled by the opposition since he took office in 2022.
Reasons for what happened
- The ruling People’s Power Party reached a deadlock with the opposition Democratic Party over the draft budget law for next year.
- Tensions increased after Yoon rejected calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and senior officials in his government, sparking sharp criticism from his political opponents.
- These developments raise questions about the future of Yoon’s rule and the stability of the political situation in South Korea.
Resignation or impeachment
- The Democratic Party, the largest opposition party, called on President Yoon, who has been in office since 2022, to resign or face impeachment over the declaration of martial law, the first in South Korea since 1980.
- The National Assembly can impeach the president if more than two-thirds of lawmakers vote in favor. The Constitutional Court then holds a trial, which can be confirmed by a vote of 6 of the 9 judges.
- Yoon’s party controls 108 seats in the 300-member legislature.
- If Yoon resigns or is fired, Prime Minister Han Dak-soo will take over as president until new elections are held.