CNN affiliate in South Korea YTN the moment South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law
CNN | Published December 6, 2024
Seoul, South Korea
CNN—Declaring martial law in a stable and boisterous democracy was an audacious gamble – and one that appears to have backfired spectacularly for South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol.
Now, the former prosecutor and conservative firebrand’s political career hangs by a thread, with an impeachment motion against him underway and the country’s leader rapidly losing support even within his own ruling party.
Dramatic scenes from South Korea on Tuesday night showed military helicopters landing near the National Assembly in the capital Seoul, soldiers breaking through windows to try and prevent lawmakers from gathering, and protesters confronting riot police.
But the operation was unsuccessful. TV stations and news media continued to report unhindered, people traveled freely and there were no mass arrests. When lawmakers voted to overturn Yoon’s surprise decree, security forces backed away.
In the days since the streets of Seoul have been busy with commuter traffic, there was little extra security presence on the ground, businesses and restaurants were open, and the country was functioning as normal.
But the president’s short-lived declaration of martial law still felt like an attack to the heart of the country’s democracy. As they peacefully marched through Seoul this week, protesters expressed revulsion at the move, describing Yoon’s actions to CNN as a “betrayal” and “an embarrassment,” and demanded his resignation and arrest.
At one rally in the capital on Wednesday, teacher Kyung-soo said Yoon’s attacks on his opponents – including calling them “communist forces” – were “the behavior of a dictator, and clearly clashes with the wishes of the people.”
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.cnn.com
RELATED: South Korea’s ruling party leader calls for suspension of president’s powers in dramatic reversal
South Korea’s ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hun, right, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea on December 6. Jo Sung-bong/Newsis/AP via CNN Newsource
ALBANY HERALD | Published December 6, 2024
Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — The leader of South Korea’s ruling party said Friday that President Yoon Suk Yeoul needs to be immediately suspended from duty to protect the country from “grave danger,” in a dramatic reversal of opinion that compounds the pressure building on Yoon ahead of a impeachment vote in parliament.
The apparent U-turn by Han Dong-hoon, chief of Yoon’s own People Power Party, comes after he received “credible evidence” that Yoon had ordered the arrest of key politicians during the short-lived martial law imposed on Tuesday night, Han told reporters Friday.
“In light of these new emerging facts, I have concluded that it is necessary to suspend President Yoon Suk Yeol’s powers promptly to protect South Korea and its people,” said Yoon, who had earlier opposed the impeachment citing the risk of unrest and chaos.
“If President Yoon continues to hold the presidency, there is a significant risk that extreme actions like this martial law declaration could be repeated, putting South Korea and its citizens in grave danger,” he added.
Yoon’s late night martial law decree – which only lasted a few hours before being struck down by lawmakers – was met with shock and anger across the country, with protesters and opposition figures demanding his impeachment.
Han’s comments on Friday are the latest sign that support for Yoon is wavering within his own party, which has criticized his declaration of martial law but has not expressed outright support for impeachment.
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.albanyherald.com
Be the first to comment