South Korean president poses ‘high risk’ of war with North Korea

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South Korea’s National Assembly has put forward a motion for the impeachment of the President, which will be voted on late Friday or Saturday.

Derek Bolton, an expert on Korea from the University of Reading, told the Financial TImes that President Yoon’s martial law declaration was a ‘desperate domestic political manoeuvre by an embattled president facing falling approval ratings and corruption scandals’.

He added: ‘Invoking threats from North Korea as the reason for declaring martial law has backfired on President Yoon, as this has created a constitutional crisis at home and has handed South Korea’s neighbours to the north a significant propaganda victory.’

Some of Korea’s largest brands, including Samsung, LG, Hyundai and Kia have all seen lower share prices in the Korean stock market index, Kospi.

LG’s share price dropped 1.5%, Hyundai dropped 2.56%, and Samsung fell .93%.

Stock markets opened as normal today in Korea, but it seems the turmoil has affected more than just politics.

Antony Blinken says the decision of Yoon Suk Yeol to withdraw South Korea’s martial law order was “welcome”. 

US state secretary Antony Blinken told a conference abroad that Korea is one of America’s ‘close’ partners, and he’d been watching the developments carefully.

He added: ‘We’re obviously watching the developments very closely. This is one of our closest partners and allies around the world,” he said. We welcome President Yoon’s statement withdrawing the martial law order. And there was a unanimous vote in the National Assembly to reject the decision. And he followed up on that.

‘In our judgement, any political disagreements need to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law. Korea’s been an extraordinary story, an extraordinary success story.’

South Korea’s president poses ‘high risk’ of military conflict with North Korea, the opposition has warned.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said Yoon’s policies and actions pose a serious risk of provoking Kim Jong-un.

Speaking at a rally in front of the National Assembly attended by hundreds of opposition lawmakers and supporters, Lee said: ‘They will try it [martial law] again, addressing their previous shortcomings after their initial failure.

‘The risk of provoking North Korea and eventually leading to military conflict is significantly high.’

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described Yoon’s shock military law declaration as ‘very worrying’.

He told parliament: ‘It is very worrying that we are hearing that a country with which we are allies and friends, such as South Korea, has now declared martial law.

‘My wish is that this will be withdrawn very quickly.’

1. Choi Kyu-hah (1979–1980) – forced to resign shortly after military coup .
2. Chun Doo-hwan (1980–1988) – sentenced to death for his role in the suppression of the Gwangju Uprising. His sentence was later reduced to life behind bars.
3. Roh Tae-woo (1988–1993) – completed his term, but was later imprisoned for corruption and involvement in a military coup.
4. Kim Young-sam (1993–1998) – his term ended decades of military rule
5. Kim Dae-jung (1998–2003) – remembered for his ‘Sunshine Policy’ toward North Korea
6. Roh Moo-hyun (2003–2008) – died by suicide amid a corruption investigation
7. Lee Myung-bak (2008–2013) – after the end of his term, he was arrested on charges of bribery, embezzlement, and tax evasion alleged to have occurred during his presidency
8. Park Geun-hye (2013–2017) – impeached over a corruption and influence-peddling scandal
9. Moon Jae-in (2017–2022) – term ended
10. Yoon Suk-yeol (2022–present) – still in office

Footage circulating on social media shows the moment a journalist-turned-lawmaker clashed with an armed solider outside South Korea’s parliament.

Anh Gwi-ryeong was among the protesters who poured to the gates of the building in Seoul.

In the video, she can be seen in a scuffle with a soldier armed with a rifle and combat gear.

She grabs the barrel of his gun, yelling: ‘Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves?”

The incident happened after South Korea’s president imposed martial law.

Japanese defence minister Gen Nakatani has also postponed a visit to South Korea, which was tentatively planned for later this month, it was reported.

It comes after Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson also pulled out from his trip last minute over the political crisis.

The UK Foreign Office offers travel advice for Britons heading abroad.

On its webpage for those visiting South Korea, officials updated their travel advice in light of South Korea declaring and reversing martial law.

Now it says: ‘We are aware of the developing situation following a declaration of martial law in South Korea. This has now been lifted.

‘Follow the advice of local authorities and avoid large public gatherings. Demonstrations are expected in the areas around Gwanghwamun, the Presidential Office (Samgakji) and the National Assembly (Yeouido).’

More than 121,300 Britons visited South Korea last year.

‘With recent developments, we have concluded that it is better to travel to the Republic of Korea in the future.’

This is what the Swedish government has told South Korea following Yoon declaration and reversal of martial law.

The Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson was set to visit Seoul tomorrow but the trip has been postponed.

‘As in all democracies, political differences are best solved through democratic processes and in accordance with the rule of law. In that spirit, the decision to lift martial law is a welcome step,’ the Swedish government added in a statement released by the Korean Embassy in Sweden.

As countless South Koreans woke up this morning, six hours of anger and uncertainty had come to an end – martial law had been reversed.

But some hadn’t even slept last night. Choi, an office worker, told The Korea Times that he was ‘glued’ to his phone all night.

‘It’s like I travelled 40 years back in time, it was so absurd. Even my middle school-aged son couldn’t sleep and watched TV with me. My heart is still pounding,’ he told the paper this morning.

Other South Koreans didn’t even know martial law was briefly in effect. ‘I went to bed around 9pm and only learned about it at 6am,’ said Lee Jin-hong, 71.

‘It’s disappointing to see the president ignore the Constitution.’

Martial law coming into effect for the first time since 1980 brought back memories for Heo, 55 – but not exactly nostaglic ones.

‘I thought democracy was firmly rooted in Korea,’ she said, ‘but that belief has been shattered.’

In the footage above, a woman can be seen grabbing the gun of an armed soldier during a protest outside the National Assembly.

Her name is Ahn Gwi-ryeong, 35, and she’s just spoken with the BBC about this nail-biting moment.

‘I didn’t think…I just knew we had to stop this,’ she told the broadcaster. ‘Honestly, I was scared at first… but seeing such confrontation, I thought, “I can’t stay silent”.’

Yoon, it’s safe to say, is having a bad day. Six opposition parties have filed a motion to impeach the president.

Yonhap reports that the motion will be voted on ‘within 72 hours’.

To give you an idea of why politicians are calling for Yoon’s removal, the Democratic Party of Korea, the country’s main opposition party that controls the National Assembly, issued a stern statement yesterday.

‘The 50 million citizens of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic Party will not sit idly by and watch President Yoon Seok-yeol’s crime of destroying the Constitution and democracy,’ the party said.

‘President Yoon Seok-yeol can no longer avoid the lightning-like judgment of the people and history. ‘

‘President Yoon Seok-yeol must resign immediately!’ it added.

Pretty much as you’d expect. The country’s main broadcaster, Voice of Korea, says several groups in South Korea are ‘demanding the resignation of puppet Yoon Suk Yeol and repeal of fascist laws’.

A statement issued by student groups and peace campaigners, as KCNA put it, said: ‘Yoon Suk Yeol regime is making frantic efforts to eliminate the opposition forces, wielding evil laws in a bid to get out of the ruling crisis.’

North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, has yet to cover the saga that engulfed its neighbour.

Instead, the latest articles include people picking tree seeds, a new dairy farm and Kim Jong Un wishing someone a happy birthday.

Earlier, we brought you the news that South Korea’s defence minister has tendered his resignation.

It’s safe to say he’s not the only one. Yoon Suk Yeol’s entire cabinet and all of his aides have offered to step down from their posts.

Resignations include Chung Jin-suk, the presidential chief of staff; National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik; and Sung Tae-yoon, chief of staff for policy, as well as seven other senior aides.

According to KBS, South Korea’s national broadcaster, this was part of a ‘collective’ resignation this morning.

Yoon plunged South Korea into martial law, igniting a tense night marked by peaceful protests and political fury. But before the sun had even risen, the president had backed down. Martial law was no more.

The 300-member National Assembly had voted 190-0 to rescind martial law. Hours later, Yoon and his cabinet approved the change.

According to the Korean constitition, martial law can only be enforced ‘to cope with a military necessity or to maintain the public safety’. Yoon introduced martial law to counter his political opposition, which was ‘trying to overthrow the free democracy’.

However, the constitution says the president must immediately notify parliament when this happens, and the legislature has a say in this.

‘When the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law with the concurrent vote of a majority of the total members of the National Assembly, the President shall comply,’ the constitution adds.