SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol defended martial law With fiery comments made ahead of a second impeachment attempt and an expanding investigation into whether his brief power grab constituted an insurrection.
Yun’s statement came on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the country’s last state-orchestrated coup. Soldier Chun Doo-hwan This deepened the chaos that paralyzed South Korean politics and diplomacy.
Let’s take a look at the events that caused a whirlwind. It has shaken one of Asia’s most robust democracies.
December 3rd
A surprise announcement was made at 10:29 p.m. President Yoon speaks to a national television audience He declared martial law, saying the opposition-controlled parliament had become a “den of criminals” paralyzing government affairs.
South Korean President Yoon speaks at a press conference at the presidential palace in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, December 3, 2024 (Ministry of Unification of South Korea, Associated Press).
Yun vowed to “eradicate” his political opponents, describing them as “anti-national forces” sympathetic to North Korea and “causing havoc and being the main culprits for our country’s destruction.” He does not support his claims with direct evidence.
In response, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan called for an emergency meeting.
As MPs began flooding into parliament, the military’s martial law imposed widespread government enforcement, including suspending party activities and other political gatherings that could cause “social disorder” and controlling the media and publications. He issued a proclamation declaring his authority. Those who violate this law may be arrested without a warrant.
Police officers stand guard in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Hundreds of heavily armed troops surrounded Congress, apparently to prevent lawmakers from gathering to vote on declaring martial law. Live streaming of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung’s journey From his car, he appealed for people to gather at the Capitol to help lawmakers get inside. Unstable footage shows him climbing over a fence to reach the property.
December 4th
Shortly after midnight, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik said on his YouTube channel that Congress would respond to Yoon’s declaration of martial law using “procedures based on the constitution.”
Mr. Woo, who also climbed over the fence, arrived at the main chamber of the National Assembly at around 12:35 a.m. Some South Korean troops broke a window and entered the building, but were unable to reach the main chamber. Prime Minister Wu will hold a meeting at 12:47 a.m. to vote on whether to lift martial law.
Around 1 a.m., 190 members of Congress, including 18 from Yun’s own conservative National Power Party, unanimously voted in favor of lifting martial law. Shortly after, the military and police begin withdrawing from parliament.
At 4:30 a.m., martial law was officially lifted after a cabinet meeting.
A helicopter flies over the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Hours later, opposition parties filed a motion calling for Yoon’s impeachment. They argue that his declaration of martial law is a blatant violation of the Constitution, which limits the president’s use of emergency powers during wartime or comparable national emergencies and does not allow for the suspension of Congressional activities under any circumstances. I am doing it.
Democrats said it was “a grave act of treason and perfect grounds for impeachment.”
Lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea hold a rally against South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
December 5th
Mr. Yoon replaced Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. A close aide who is said to have advised the president to declare martial law. Han Dong-hoon, leader of Yoon’s party, criticized Yoon’s declaration as “unconstitutional,” but said he would work to defeat the impeachment motion led by the opposition party. Han said it was necessary to “prevent damage to the people and supporters due to unexpected chaos.”
December 6th
In a surprising reversal, Han Expressing support for suspending Mr. Yoon’s constitutional powers, The president said it posed a “grave risk of extreme action that could put the Republic of Korea and its people at great risk, such as attempting to impose martial law again.”
A vehicle is parked on the National Assembly lawn to prevent a helicopter from landing on the National Assembly building in Seoul, South Korea, on Friday, December 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Mr. Han said he had received information that during a short period of martial law, Mr. Yoon had ordered his counterintelligence commander to arrest and detain key politicians based on accusations of “anti-state activities.” Ta.
A senior spy official told parliament members that the politicians detained included Han, National Assembly Speaker Woo and opposition leader Lee.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Mr. Lee questions Mr. Yoon’s mental strength to remain president. He vowed to do his best to impeach Yun as soon as possible.
December 7th
Yun apologized and said he had no intention of avoiding legal and political responsibility for imposing martial law. Yun said he would leave it to the party to guide it through the country’s political turmoil, “including issues related to my term in office.”
Yun survives impeachment vote Most ruling party MPs boycotted the motion, rejecting it with the required two-thirds majority.
The Democratic Party has announced that it will prepare a new impeachment motion.
December 8th
Prosecutors arrest former defense minister over his role in the planning and execution of Mr. Yun’s martial law enforcement.
December 9th
Korean Ministry of Justice Ban on Mr. Yoon’s overseas travel Police, prosecutors and South Korea’s anti-corruption agency are widening competing investigations into sedition charges and other charges related to martial law.
December 10th
After Yoon declared martial law, Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jeong-geun, who sent troops to the National Assembly, received direct instructions from former Defense Minister Kim to prevent members from entering the National Assembly’s main chamber. he told parliament. He claimed that Mr. Kim’s instructions were to prevent the 300 members of Congress from gathering the 150 votes needed to overturn Mr. Yoon’s martial law.
Kwak said Yoon then called him directly and asked the military to “quickly break down the door and pull out the lawmakers inside.” Mr. Kwak says he is not carrying out Mr. Yoon’s orders.
December 11th
Defense Minister Kim Won officially arrested Regarding suspicion of colluding with Yun and others in the imposition of martial law. The Justice Ministry said Kim was stopped from attempting suicide hours before a Seoul court issued an arrest warrant.
South Korean police sent officers to Yoon’s office to search for evidence related to the introduction of martial law, but Yoon’s security team blocked them from entering the premises.
Police detained the national police chief and top Seoul city officials over Yun’s role in enforcing martial law.
December 12th
Yun has defended his martial law as an act of governance, denied charges of sedition and vowed to “fight to the end” in the face of an impeachment attempt. Opposition parties will submit a new impeachment motion against him for a vote in the House this weekend.
The National Assembly also passed a motion to suspend National Police Chief Cho Ji-ho and Justice Minister Park Sung-jae from official duties and impeach them for their alleged involvement in the enforcement of martial law.
