Political crisis in South Korea: martial law rejected by Parliament, uncertain prospects for President Yoon Suk Yeol

The martial law, decreed two days ago by Yoon Suk Yeol, the President of South Korea, as a necessary measure in light of the nuclear threats coming from the political regime in Pyongyang, which allegedly had supporters in Seoul, has proven, according to the South Korean, Chinese and Japanese media, to be a desperate act on the part of the head of state, who in recent months has dropped to 20% in the top of the citizens' trust in opinion polls.

As a result, South Koreans took to the streets in large numbers to protest. The martial law lasted only 6 hours, after which it was unanimously rejected by the votes of the 190 parliamentarians present at the extraordinary session of the Legislature in Seoul, among those who voted against it were also the elected representatives of the party that propelled Yoon Suk Yeol to the position of President of South Korea.

After the rejection of martial law by the Parliament in Seoul, the political opposition reacted promptly, introducing a motion to suspend the president, signed by 190 parliamentarians and one independent, which is expected to be voted on today or tomorrow. If the motion passes with two-thirds of the votes, the case will be reviewed by the Constitutional Court, which can confirm the suspension of the president if six of the nine judges vote in this direction.

Within Yoon's own political party, there were calls for the leader's resignation. South Korean media reported that nine of President Yoon's advisers, including the foreign policy and defense advisers, have submitted their resignations.

If Yoon is dismissed or resigns, the South Korean Constitution stipulates that presidential elections must be held within 60 days. Experts believe that a possible victory by the opposition would mark a significant change in South Korea's foreign policy, especially in its relationship with Japan and the United States.

The political crisis has raised concerns in Japan and the United States, key allies of South Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that the situation is being followed with "serious concern", and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the lifting of martial law, emphasizing support for democracy. Trilateral relations between South Korea, Japan and the United States, already strengthened in recent times, are now in danger of being affected by the political chaos. In addition, any change in leadership could affect bilateral relations between Seoul and Tokyo, which have recently improved.

The Japanese daily The Asahi Shimbun has carefully analyzed the events, highlighting the possibility that this crisis could disrupt recent agreements between South Korea and Japan. The Japanese publication Yomiuri Shimbun noted the fragility of the trilateral alliance in the face of political instability.

From China's perspective, the Global Times speculated that this political crisis could provide opportunities for influence for Beijing, given the weakening of Yoon's authority domestically and internationally. Chinese media have also highlighted the risks related to regional security, especially in the context of tensions on the Korean peninsula.

South Korean publications, such as the Chosun Ilbo and the JoongAng Ilbo, have analyzed the long-term impact of the crisis. The Hankyoreh has emphasized that this situation reflects a deep polarization of South Korean society and a crisis of trust in democratic institutions.

From the North Korean press, we found a complete silence regarding the events in the neighboring country. The few North Korean newspapers, including the official one of the Communist Party, are full of messages sent by various citizen organizations to leader Kim Jong-Un, news about industrial achievements and the schooling of the workforce, reports about the meeting of the Minister of Defense with a military envoy of the Russian Federation, and that's it. Nothing, no news about the events in South Korea.

Meanwhile, the Japanese press also reported that Japanese people in South Korea are worried about the situation in Seoul, and the Japanese embassy has issued precautionary warnings for its citizens.

The daily El Pais reports that two years ago, Yoon Suk Yeol won the presidency by less than one percentage point, a result that was interpreted as a rejection of the ruling center-left Democratic Party, rather than a vote for Yoon's People Power Party. The current South Korean president is the only head of state in the country not to have controlled parliament at any point during his term. As of January 2024, only 29.2% of the bills submitted to parliament by his cabinet had been approved, according to data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the source added.

As the crisis deepens, the prospects for a political comeback by Yoon seems increasingly distant. Political observers agree that the future of the South Korean president is now extremely uncertain, and the country is preparing for significant changes. South Korea is going through a critical moment, with profound implications for its political, economic and international future. The current crisis reflects not only the challenges facing President Yoon Suk Yeol, but also the fragility of the country's democratic system in the face of major political challenges. With the political outlook increasingly uncertain and the protests continuing, South Korea is entering a new era of uncertainty, one that could reshape the domestic political landscape and international relations.