South Korea's Political Turmoil Following Martial Law Attempt
In a dramatic week for South Korea, the political landscape has been shaken by President Yoon Suk-yeol's controversial attempt to impose martial law, which he rescinded just hours later amid widespread protests and parliamentary opposition. The fallout from this unprecedented move has led to the arrest of former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is now facing serious charges including treason and rebellion for his role in recommending the martial law declaration.
The situation escalated quickly after Yoon's declaration on Tuesday, which was met with immediate backlash from both the public and lawmakers. Tens of thousands took to the streets, with estimates of protester numbers ranging from 150,000 according to police to over a million according to organizers. Demonstrators rallied outside the parliament building, demanding the president's resignation and denouncing the martial law attempt as a threat to democracy.
In a subsequent parliamentary session, an impeachment motion against Yoon was introduced but ultimately failed to pass due to a walkout by ruling party lawmakers, which left the session without the necessary quorum. The National Assembly's president declared the vote invalid, expressing regret over the failure of the democratic process. Despite this, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has indicated that Yoon's resignation is
