Background
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a drastic decision of imposing martial law in the country. He mentioned that the need arises for martial law to protect the country from anti-state forces and the threat from North Korea. A nuanced analysis reveals that the reason for the external threat only skims the surface; a deeper impetus lies deeper, rooted in the turmoil of his own pressing political predicaments.
Source- The Conversation
A few hours after the declaration, the country was besieged with military armies and troops. Protests engulfed the prominent parts of the country chanting, “No martial law.” The leader of the opposition party, Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party, gathered all MPs and lawmakers to vote down the declaration. Around 1:00 on Wednesday, 190 out of 300 members present voted down the law, marking it invalid.
What is martial law?
Martial law is a temporary form of governance by the military in case of an emergency or a war. South Korea’s Constitution provides the President the power to impose martial law in a warlike situation or any other national emergency. Martial law powers include suspending the civil rights of the citizens while limiting the control of courts and government agencies. The Constitution also provides the right to overturn the martial law decision by majority vote. The lawmakers rushed to the Parliament to lift the decision by voting.
Reason behind Martial Law
President Yoon Suk Yeol justified his decision of martial law. He claimed that the declaration was necessary to defend the country from the North Korean Communist forces and anti-state forces that are depriving people of their happiness. A nuanced approach helps to reveal that there could be some personal goals attached to his decision. Since 2022, Yoon has faced difficulties in keeping his agendas in front of an opposition-dominated parliament. He has also been criticized for refusing an independent investigation into scandals involving his wife and senior officials. These reasons might give him personal reason to adopt martial law as a way to control, avoid, and silence the opposition.
Source- The Business Standard
Impeachment
Yoon’s decision backfired on him. The opposition party tried impeaching him a week ago, but the ruling People Power party denied the vote, believing that Yoon would himself realize his mistake and the threat he imposed on South Korea’s democracy and would resign from the post. However, on Thursday he stood by his decision, defending the martial law decision, and claimed that he was trying to protect the country. The members of the Yoon party, seeing no remorse in him and his denial of resignation, sought the impeachment as the only possible way to remove him.
Source- BBC
South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach the president, Yoon Suk Yeol, on Saturday after he denied his resignation over his short-lived martial law attempt. It is the second time the president has been impeached in South Korea in less than a decade. The impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol has suspended his exercising powers until the final decision is made by the country’s Constitutional Court. The country’s prime minister, Han Duck-soo, would be acting as the president till then. Following his impeachment, the country was engulfed in protests by Yoon’s supporters, holding US and South Korean flags in support of Yoon.
If Yoon is impeached, it wouldn’t be the first time in South Korea’s history that the president will be impeached. In 2016, President Park Geun-hye was impeached, and in 2004, President Roh Moo-hyun was impeached. This rash action goes against the ideals of South Korea rooted in modern democracy, which emerged from a dictatorship.
