Why did South Korea declare martial law, what's next for President Yoon? | Military Affairs

In a surprise speech late Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announced the lifting of martial law, citing a proposal by the opposition Democratic Party, which holds the majority in parliament, to criticize top prosecutors and reject the government's budget proposal. .

But less than two hours after declaring martial law, lawmakers pushed past the military to vote to enact his law. Yoon accepted the change six hours later.

Here's what we know about the political conflict:

What happened in South Korea on Tuesday?

In an unscheduled televised address around 11pm (14:00 GMT), Yoon declared martial law, accusing the Democratic Party of sympathizing with North Korea and engaging in anti-national activities.

His law briefly empowered the military, which sent soldiers and police to the National Assembly building, where helicopters were seen perched on the roof.

South Korean politicians quickly denounced Yoon's announcement as illegal and unconstitutional. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung called on Democratic Party lawmakers to come together and vote against the announcement.

Thousands took to the streets, but the tension did not stop the violence despite the presence of the army. Lawmakers were able to bypass the restrictions, and when they got to the chamber, they voted unanimously to block the law during an emergency overnight meeting, with 190 of the 300 members of South Korea's National Assembly.

At around 4:30am (19:30 GMT), Yoon said he would reverse his decision. He confirmed in a statement that the soldiers sent to carry out this order will be withdrawn, but he reiterated his original reasons for this law.

What is martial law?

Martial law is a temporary form of rule by military authorities during a state of emergency.

South Korea's constitution states that the president can declare martial law if necessary to deal with a military threat or maintain public safety and order by deploying the military.

According to the Center for Strategies and International Studies (CSIS), Yoon implemented emergency martial law.

By declaring emergency martial law, Yoon has the authority to “[limit] freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association,” according to CSIS.

In this case, the order placed all news stations under martial law control and ordered all medical staff, including striking doctors, to resume work within 48 hours.

Thousands of doctors have been on strike in South Korea since early February over a proposal to increase student enrollment in medical schools, forcing hospitals to cancel treatments and surgeries. The government says reforms are needed to reduce labor shortages and manage the dynamics of an aging population.

Youngshik Bong, a visiting professor at Yonsei University and an adviser to South Korea's Ministry of Unification, said martial law declarations under Article 77 of the constitution should be reserved for extreme situations, such as actual war.

“But we [didn’t] he had this condition,” Youngshik told Al Jazeera. “This is not a game the president can win.”

Why did Yoon declare martial law?

The declaration of martial law comes after months of declining public support, with a poll last week showing Yoon's approval rating had dropped to just 25 percent.

In his announcement, he focused on his domestic political opponents and did not mention any threat from North Korea. He complained about 22 impeachment requests against the administration since he took office in May 2022.

Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has faced challenges in advancing his agenda in the opposition-controlled parliament. His party has clashed with opposition parties over next year's budget.

Yoon also rejected calls for an independent investigation into scandals involving his wife and senior officials, drawing criticism from his political opponents.

Can Yoon face impeachment now?

A group of opposition lawyers said they plan to introduce a bill to censure Yoon on Wednesday, and it is expected to be voted on within 72 hours.

The National Assembly can impeach the president if more than two-thirds of the members vote against him.

The Democratic Party, along with other smaller parties, has 192 seats, eight short of the 200 needed to impeach the president.

Some members of Yoon's People Power Party also strongly opposed his declaration of martial law. It is not clear how many, if any, will join the opposition if the proposal is voted on.

If impeachment is voted on and approved, the case will be tried in the Constitutional Court, a nine-member body that oversees the branches of the South Korean government. If six members of the court vote against the trial, the president will be removed from office.

Earlier this morning, Yoon's staff promised to resign en masse, although the president has not yet appeared in public.

The Korea Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the largest labor organizations in the country, has also called for a strike until Yoon resigns.

“Usually, they don't participate in politics,” Alex Taek-Gwang Lee, a professor of cultural studies at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, told Al Jazeera. “This will speed up the impeachment process. Then I think Mr. Yoon will be charged soon. “

Yoon was inaugurated as the president of South Korea on May 10, 2022.

What happens when Yoon steps down?

The prime minister will act as acting leader. A new election must be held within 60 days.

In the following hours, more protests are expected.

How has the response been?

Inside the country, protests erupted as South Koreans also began collecting supplies. Local media reports indicate that the price of canned goods rose by 300 percent and instant noodles by 250 percent between 11pm (14:00 GMT) and midnight (15:00 GMT). Sales of water, rice and batteries also increased significantly, according to a Reuters news agency report.

Internationally, the White House said it was “relieved” by Yoon's decision to lift martial law.

Earlier, the United Kingdom and Germany said they were following these events closely. Meanwhile, Russia said it is worried about the problem in South Korea. China urged its citizens in South Korea to be careful.