South Korea faces escalating political turmoil as opposition lawmakers push for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over a controversial martial law declaration.
- Impeachment Vote: The Democratic Party plans to vote on impeachment Saturday, requiring a two-thirds parliamentary majority. Opposition leaders cited the martial law attempt as causing “confusion and fear.”
- Defence Minister Resigns: Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, accused of advising martial law and deploying troops to parliament, resigned. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Choi Byung-hyuk has been nominated as his replacement.
- Ruling Party Divided: Yoon’s People Power Party opposes impeachment, but divisions have emerged as Yoon struggles to stabilize his position with two years left in his term.
- International Reactions:
- Japan: Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba warned of shifting security dynamics and urged preservation of improving Tokyo-Seoul ties.
- U.S.: Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed surprise at the declaration, while Deputy Kurt Campbell called it a severe miscalculation. U.S. troops in Korea remain on high alert amid the unrest.
- Broader Impact: The crisis threatens Yoon’s standing as a pro-Western leader in a key U.S. ally, while North Korea has yet to respond to the developments.
South Korea’s political and security landscape faces heightened uncertainty, with domestic and international implications.
