South Korean President Faces Impeachment

On a shocking Tuesday evening, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in an unannounced broadcast on YTN, a South Korean news channel. In the broadcast, he asserted that opposition parties had thrown the country into crisis and were a threat to the freedom of South Koreans. He cited actions made by the Democratic Party to justify his declaration, such as the effort made this week to impeach top prosecutors of the country and a rejection of his proposed budget. His move has also taken allies, such as the U.S., by surprise, as they received no prior notice. Given that democracy is a core value of American policy, the martial law declaration could strain relations between the two countries.

During his announcement, Yoon stated, “I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order.” No specific threats or plans were made, other than his attempt to ban political activity and censor the media.

The Democratic Party has controlled South Korea’s national assembly since Yoon took office in 2022, with Yoon’s popularity steadily declining among the South Korean public. The opposition repeatedly blocked his agenda prior to the declaration of martial law. After the announcement, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said that “Tanks, armored personnel carriers, and soldiers with guns and knives will rule the country,” and that “The economy of the Republic of Korea will collapse irretrievably.”

Under Yoon’s orders, armed troops entered the National Assembly building in Seoul with the declaration of martial law. However, Yoon's attempt to impose martial law ultimately failed due to widespread resistance. Parliamentary aides sprayed soldiers with fire extinguishers, protests against military rule erupted across the country, and the parliament voted decisively to oppose his actions. Shortly after the vote, the president rescinded his proclamation of martial law.

Following this failure, the political career of the South Korean president is uncertain. On Wednesday, South Korean lawmakers proposed impeaching Yoon, which requires the support of more than two-thirds of lawmakers in order to pass.

South Korea’s democratic institutions, once threatened, might face long-term repercussions, as seen in other nations where military rule led to repressive regimes. Historically, martial law declarations have had serious ramifications and far-reaching consequences. These cases serve as cautionary tales, illustrating the dire results these types of situations can yield. For example, Ferdinand Marcos was democratically elected to lead the Philippines. However, shortly before the end of his second term, he declared martial law, which occurs when the military takes control of the government. This allowed him to dismantle the nation’s democracy. Subsequently, the country was ruled by a dictatorship that was marked by brutality and corruption. Similarly, Chile’s Augusto Pinochet seized power through a military coup in 1973. A military coup happens when the army forces the government out of power. Pinochet’s regime, known as a junta, oppressed the nation for years. Civil liberties were severely restricted, and similar to other dictatorships, it was marked by cruelty, leaving lasting scars on the country.

Overall, the consequences of Yoon’s failed attempt to establish martial law remain clouded by uncertainty. Yoon’s political future, democratic stability, and international alliances remain unclear, given that the situation is still developing and updates will be forthcoming.

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ABOUT LOGAN

I am Logan and I am in the 10th grade. My interests in journalism are informative articles. I have a particular interest in writing about major world events and politics. In addition, I have an interest in writing game reviews, since I enjoy playing video games in my free time. I enjoy the FPS genre of games in particular. As a first-time journalist, I am excited to begin writing articles in Centner.