South Korea's Most Unexpected Plot Twist of the Year

Summary

South Korea's recent political crisis has sparked widespread shock and protests. The president's abrupt imposition of martial law, aimed at consolidating power, led to arrests, clashes with opposition, and massive public outcry. After lifting the martial law due to protests and legislative action, the president's approval ratings plummeted. Despite overwhelming public support for impeachment, a vote in the National Assembly failed when ruling party members walked out. The situation mirrors South Korea's 2016 impeachment drama, with citizens vowing to continue their fight, signaling the ongoing battle for the country's democratic future.

Takeaways

• 😀 The South Korean president's surprise declaration of martial law caused widespread shock and confusion, with no prior announcement to the public.
• 😱 The president attempted a full military mobilization, including helicopter flights, to enforce martial law, but protests and lawmakers' resistance led to its swift lifting.
• 🤦‍♂️ After the martial law was lifted, the president's apology was weak and included contradictory statements about his future intentions and his party's role in stabilizing the situation.
• 😳 The president tried to arrest both the opposition party leader and his own party leader, leading many to believe he was attempting a political coup.
• 🤔 The ruling People Power Party (PPP) theorized that the president declared martial law because he was lonely and needed someone to talk to, an explanation that baffled many.
• 💔 Despite promising no further attempts at martial law, the president's contradictory statements about his term and intentions raised fears of an authoritarian power grab.
• 🤯 The opposition Democratic Party (DP) attempted to impeach the president, relying on both their own votes and potential defections from the PPP.
• 😅 The impeachment vote required at least 200 votes, but the DP faced an uphill battle as many PPP legislators were expected to block the impeachment to protect their own power.
• 📜 The DP resorted to an unexpected move by voting on the prosecution of the first lady first, hoping to expose corruption and force PPP members to vote against her, thus creating leverage for impeachment.
• 📉 Public discontent with the president reached a peak, with approval ratings plummeting to just 13%, signaling widespread desire for his removal from office.
• 😢 Despite massive protests outside the National Assembly and a close vote on prosecuting the first lady, the impeachment effort failed as PPP legislators walked out of the chamber, leaving the impeachment vote incomplete.

Q & A

What triggered the political crisis in South Korea?

The political crisis in South Korea began when the president unexpectedly declared martial law without prior warning, ordering the military to block the National Assembly. This decision was followed by an attempt to arrest political figures, including members of his own party.

How did the president justify his declaration of martial law?

The president apologized for causing anxiety with his martial law declaration, but his apology was vague and seemed insufficient. He claimed that he had acted out of concern for the country's stability but did not provide a clear rationale for his actions.

What was the reaction of the South Korean public to the president’s actions?

The public was shocked and outraged by the president's actions. Protests erupted across the country, and even South Korean idols, typically apolitical, joined in. People from various socioeconomic backgrounds gathered to demand accountability, with some even organizing protests abroad.

Why did the president attempt to arrest his own party leader?

The president attempted to arrest his own party leader, H Dong-hon, as part of a broader effort to consolidate power. However, this backfired, as it fueled suspicions of a coup attempt and further complicated his political situation.

What was the outcome of the first vote related to the impeachment?

The first vote, aimed at prosecuting the first lady for corruption and bribery, was narrowly defeated. Despite this, the Democratic Party saw the six PPP legislators who voted for prosecution as a sign that the president’s position was weakening.

What strategy did the Democratic Party use to attempt impeachment?

The Democratic Party's strategy involved first forcing a vote on prosecuting the first lady to ensure the PPP members attended the National Assembly. They hoped that the presence of the PPP members would allow them to move forward with the impeachment vote immediately afterward.

Why did the impeachment vote fail?

The impeachment vote failed because most members of the People Power Party (PPP), except for three, walked out of the room after the first vote. Their absence prevented the necessary quorum to proceed with the impeachment vote.

How did the PPP members react to the protests outside the National Assembly?

As PPP members left the National Assembly, they were confronted by protesters who shouted at them in disbelief. This public shaming was part of a larger effort by the Democratic Party to hold them accountable for their failure to vote for impeachment.

What was the approval rating of the president, and how did it reflect public sentiment?

The president's approval rating plummeted to just 13%, signaling widespread public dissatisfaction. This suggests that nearly 9 out of 10 South Koreans want the president to be impeached or replaced.

What historical precedent does the current impeachment struggle remind people of?

The current impeachment struggle mirrors the 2016 impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, who was also accused of corruption and abuse of power. The public then, as now, took to the streets to demand accountability, and the impeachment process took months despite clear evidence.