SEOUL, South Korea. South Korea’s political crisis deepened as opposition lawmakers announced plans to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol following his controversial declaration of martial law earlier this week. The move has sparked public outrage and international concern, with Yoon’s own administration in turmoil after the resignation of Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun.
The Democratic Party, the main opposition group, plans to hold a parliamentary vote on Saturday at 7 p.m. (1000 GMT) to impeach Yoon. “The Yoon Suk Yeol regime’s declaration of emergency martial law caused great confusion and fear among our people,” Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won said during an early morning session at the National Assembly.
On Tuesday, Yoon’s declaration of martial law attempted to ban political activity and censor the media in South Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a key U.S. ally. The move has drawn sharp criticism from international leaders and allies, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who told Reuters that Washington had not been informed in advance.
Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, accused of advising Yoon to impose martial law, resigned on Thursday. President Yoon accepted it and nominated Choi Byung-hyuk, South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as Kim’s replacement.
Vice-Defence Minister Kim Seon-ho revealed that Kim Yong-hyun had ordered troops to deploy near parliament, adding that he was unaware of the martial law declaration until it was publicly announced. “I have fundamentally opposed the mobilization of military forces under martial law and have expressed negative opinions about it,” Kim Seon-ho told a parliamentary hearing, apologizing for his inability to prevent the crisis.
The Democratic Party requires at least eight lawmakers from Yoon’s ruling People Power Party to back the impeachment motion for it to pass with a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament. The People Power Party, divided over the issue, has declared its opposition to impeachment as Yoon still has two years left in his five-year term.
Yoon’s presidency has been increasingly contentious. He has faced criticism for his hardline stance on labor unions and allegations of influence-peddling involving him and his wife. In November, he dismissed accusations against him, labeling his critics as “communist totalitarian and anti-state forces.”
The crisis has also raised security concerns in the region. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba noted that Japan’s security environment could be “fundamentally changed” by instability in Seoul and North Korea’s increasing military assertiveness. “What will happen to South Korea? There appears to be a great deal of domestic criticism and opposition,” Ishiba said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Yoon’s efforts to improve relations with Tokyo.
General Paul LaCamera, commander of U.S. Forces-Korea, advised American troops to exercise caution amid the protests, underscoring the potential for “unexpected” developments. The United States has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea as part of a post-Korean War alliance.
As the political storm intensifies, questions remain about Yoon’s leadership stability and its implications for South Korea’s alliances and domestic governance.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
