In a dramatic blow to the South Korean government, Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun has resigned following a tumultuous attempt to impose martial law by President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Breitbart reported that President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law on Tuesday plunged the nation into political upheaval. Claiming to counteract "subversive anti-state elements" allegedly benefiting North Korea, the President justified the declaration as necessary for national security.
This incendiary move was met with immediate backlash from various sectors of South Korean society.
The martial law initiative led to an extraordinary session in the National Assembly, where lawmakers barricaded themselves and swiftly overturned the President's decree.
The opposition Democratic Party, a strong critic of President Yoon, accused him of exploiting the martial law to disrupt ongoing investigations into senior officials within his People Power Party (PPP), including himself.
Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, a pivotal figure in this controversy, tendered his resignation by Thursday, acknowledging the failure of the martial law attempt.
In his stead, President Yoon appointed retired four-star general Choi Byung-hyuk—an act that has done little to quell the political unrest.
Protests erupted in Seoul, with demonstrators echoing severe criticisms of President Yoon's decision. Phrases like "We must take down President Yoon, who turned the clock of the Republic of Korea back 44 years, and make him pay for the terrifying 155 minutes," resonated through the crowds gathered in the capital, underlining the deep discontent among the populace.
The Democratic Party, intensifying its stance, has not only called for President Yoon's resignation but has also filed a criminal complaint accusing him and other officials of insurrection.
In a parallel development, members from President Yoon’s party proposed a constitutional amendment to shorten presidential terms as a means to address and possibly resolve the ongoing political crisis.
As the political standoff continues, the international community watches closely. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan commented on the situation, stating, “South Korea’s democracy is robust and resilient, and we’re going to continue to speak out publicly and engage privately with South Korean counterparts to reinforce the importance of that continuing."
On the home front, Choo Kyung-ho, the PPP’s floor leader, has been vociferous in his calls for unity against any move to impeach President Yoon.
He has rallied the support of all 108 lawmakers from the PPP, stressing the need to reject the impeachment to prevent further political paralysis and national division.
Moreover, some PPP lawmakers emphasized the impairment caused by the President's actions, stating, "The President inflicted an indelible wound on our citizens, who have endured a history of democratic suppression and the trauma of human rights abuses. No justification from the president or the ruling party can rationalize this martial law declaration."
As the political landscape remains volatile, the implications of these events carry significant weight for the future of South Korean democracy.
The nation stands at a critical juncture, with the potential to either backslide into periods of authoritarian rule or to reinforce the democratic values many of its citizens have fought to uphold.