December 6, 2024
The attempted coup by the president of South Korea against the majority in the National Assembly has failed.
The quick reaction of the leadership of the Democratic Party, which holds the majority, has saved the day.
There was a struggle over the budget which the president's minority government had lost.
In a furious reaction President Yoon Suk Yeol and his defense minister and school buddy Kim Yong-hyun decided to declare martial law. Remarkably the prime minister of the president's government was not informed about the step:
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was completely unaware of President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration. This was because Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, a former upperclassman of President Yoon in high school, bypassed the prime minister and communicated directly with the president.
Additionally, elite military units, specifically the 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade, were deployed to the National Assembly, signaling an aggressive move to suppress political opposition.
A source said, "This martial law action appears orchestrated by the 'Chungam faction,' with (Defense) Minister Kim directly coordinating with President Yoon." The "Chungam faction" refers to those who graduated from Chungam High School in Seoul.
Following the president's emergency briefing and martial law declaration, the military established the Martial Law Command within the Ministry of National Defense compound, appointing Army Chief of Staff Park An-su as the commander.
Diplomatic sources noted that despite the defense minister's recommendation for martial law, no cabinet meeting was convened, leaving the prime minister and his staff uninformed.
Opposition parties suspect that direct communication channels between the military and police were activated during the martial law declaration process.
They believe that the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency was engaged directly, bypassing the National Police Agency, to control access to the National Assembly.
Under martial law the National Assembly was to be suspended. Strikes were declared illegal and the media would come under censorship.
But immediately after the president announced martial law the leader of the Democratic Party in the National Assembly called for a meeting in the parliament.
At the same time the military and police were sent to block any assembly member from entering the National Assembly.
The parliamentarians won the race.
Just 150 minutes after the presidential announcement 191 of the 300 members of the National Assembly voted to immediately end the martial law status. Troops and police entered the parliament but the vote against martial law had already taken place.
Unions announced to go on strike and people came out into the street to protest the president's step. Yoon's senior aids offered to resign en masse. There was no sensible way left for him but to concede:
President Yoon Suk Yeol announced the lifting of emergency martial law early Wednesday, as the National Assembly voted to call for its end with the United States expressing "grave concern" over the hourslong saga.
His Cabinet approved a motion to end martial law enforcement at 4:30 a.m., around six hours after he made the surprise emergency declaration, accusing the nation's opposition of "paralyzing" the government with "anti-state" activities - a decision that caused concerns across the country and beyond.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said that troops, who were mobilized to execute martial law, have returned to base in a move that restored a sense of normalcy.
The opposition, with holds a majority in the National Assembly, has launched an impeachment procedures against the president. The National Assembly will have three days to vote on it. The Democratic Party will need nine additional votes from the president's People Power Party to gain the necessary two-third majority to pass the impeachment.
Several groups within the People Power Party were already positioned against the president. This makes it likely that the impeachment will pass.
The U.S. received some egg on its face. It seemed ready to side with the putsch and did not issue a word against it. Nuclear War: A Scenario Best Price: $14.95 (as of 06:57 UTC - Details)
Laura Rozen @lrozen - 𝕏 17:59 UTC · Dec 3, 2024
Biden admin Asia hand, Deputy Sec State Kurt Campbell, at event earlier today:
"So we are watching the recent developments in the ROK with grave concern. We're seeking to engage our ROK counterparts at every level both here and in Seoul. The President, the National Security Advisor, the Secretary of State have all been briefed on developments and are being kept appraised of the situation as it unfolds.
I do want to underscore that our alliance with the ROK is ironclad, and we stand by Korea in their time of uncertainty. I also want to just underscore that we have every hope and expectation that any political disputes will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law. We'll have more to say as the situation develops."
As the putsch was ongoing the U.S. embassy in South Korea 𝕏 said nothing about the rule of law or democracy.
It is notable that the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, Philip Goldberg, had previously been kicked out of Bolivia and the Philippines for attempts to overthrow the respective sitting governments. He is supposed to leave South Korea in January.
It is likely that Goldberg, and Washington DC, was informed about Yoon's martial law plans but did not attempt to prevent them.
Reprinted with permission from Moon of Alabama.