South Korean President Yun Suk-yeol’s late-night decision to declare martial law highlighted his years of conflict with domestic rivals, the media and his own conservative party and cast doubt on his political future.

After hours of turmoil and with the international community’s eyes on developments in his country, Yun pledged to withdraw the order just hours after parliament, including some members of his own party, voted to overturn the martial law decree.

Yun clinched a historic presidential election victory in South Korea in 2022 amid a wave of discontent over economic policy and scandals, reshaping the political future of Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

Western leaders welcomed him as a partner in the US-led effort to forge cooperation among countries concerned about the growing authoritarianism of China, Russia and others.

But even as he talked about a foreign policy of shared democratic values, Yun was drawing accusations of authoritarian leadership at home as fears of harsher crackdowns mounted.

During his hearing as defense minister in September, Kim Yong-hyun, then Yun’s presidential security chief, countered accusations by opposition lawmakers that his appointment was part of preparations to declare martial law.

Yun’s move comes as South Korea seeks to strengthen its position ahead of the January 20 inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has clashed with Yun’s predecessor over trade and paying for US troops stationed in the country. South Korea.

“For a president who has focused so much on South Korea’s international reputation, his move makes South Korea very unstable,” said Mason Richey, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. “This will have a negative impact on financial markets and currency markets, but also on South Korea’s diplomatic standing in the world.”

A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the declaration of martial law would complicate discussions about South Korea’s participation in more multinational diplomatic efforts.

Jenny Town of the US-based Stimson Center think tank said the move looked “desperate and dangerous” and could mark the beginning of the end for Yun’s presidency.

“He was already unpopular, but this may be the last straw to move his impeachment proceedings forward,” he said.

The erosion of democracy

Democracy in South Korea has taken a step back since Yun took office, the Varieties of Democracy Institute at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden said in an annual report in March, citing legal cases against people associated with the previous government for attacks on equality and gender freedom, but also freedom of expression.

Yun has responded to criticism by calling them false allegations, filing more defamation lawsuits than other presidents and moving to restrict access to the media.

Under Yoon, South Korea fell from 47th to 62nd in a global press freedom index according to a Reporters Without Borders report.

In some cases, he claimed that behind the criticism leveled at him were “pro-North Korean” or “anti-state” voices – a claim he used on Tuesday to justify the martial law order.

“The forces of communist totalitarianism have disguised themselves as democracy activists, human rights defenders and progressive activists,” Yun said in a speech last year.

The president’s ruling conservative People’s Power Party suffered a heavy defeat in April’s general election, as the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea took 175 of the 300 seats in the National Assembly.

The Democratic Party, which is facing internal upheaval over its leader being convicted of election law violations and facing corruption charges, has clashed with Yun over budgets and judicial investigations into his wife.

In November, Yun denied wrongdoing in an influence-peddling scandal involving him and his wife that sent his approval ratings to record lows.

Yun has also taken a hard line against labor unions, as well as striking doctors who oppose a major health reform plan that would add 2,000 medical students a year to fill what the government calls a severe shortage of doctors.

Tuesday’s martial law order ordered those doctors back to work.

Yyun’s handling of the scandals as well as the doctors’ strike led to public rifts with Han Dong-hoon, his former confidant and current party leader.
Han and his party called on Yun to revoke the decree.