South Korean lawmakers on Wednesday demanded President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment following his abrupt declaration of martial law, which he reversed just hours later. This plunged Asia’s fourth-largest economy into its most significant political crisis in decades. The announcement on Tuesday night sparked a confrontation with parliament, which defied his attempt to suppress political activity and censor the media. The situation escalated as armed troops stormed the National Assembly building in Seoul.
According to a presidential source, Yoon’s chief of staff and senior secretaries collectively offered their resignations. In a televised address, Yoon stated that martial law was essential to safeguard the country from nuclear-armed North Korea and pro-North anti-state groups and to protect its constitutional freedoms. However, he did not specify any immediate threats.
The situation escalated as troops, wearing helmets, entered the parliament building through broken windows while military helicopters flew overhead. Parliamentary aides used fire extinguishers to push the soldiers back, and clashes broke out between protesters and police outside. The military announced that parliamentary and political party activities would be prohibited and that media and publishers would fall under the control of the martial law command.
However, just hours after the declaration, South Korea’s parliament, with 190 out of 300 members present, passed a motion calling for the immediate lifting of martial law, including all 18 members from President Yoon’s party.
Is Asia Becoming Politically Unstable?
This is the second political crisis in the Asian nations after the Philippine government filed an impeachment motion against their VP for giving death threats to their president. Does this mean Asia is becoming politically unstable? With the current scenario, it is hard to conclude that Asia is becoming politically stable.
