South Korea is currently in severe social and political upheaval as a result of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s quick declaration of martial law on December 3. His choice to install military forces onto the roads of Seoul shocked spectators both domestically and abroad, a sight not seen in decades.
However, what initially appeared to be a democratic dying end for the leader is now taking an unexpected move. Despite his extraordinary arrest on January 15 on suspicion of rebellion, the situation appears to be reversing.
Long sluggish, Yoon’s approval ratings have lately surged and surpassed their pre-martial rules numbers. After decades of division and faction fighting, the ruling People Power Party is also immediately reorganizing.
While this upsurge may prove momentary, the growing influx of pro-Yoon followers and the government’s increasing momentum are becoming harder to ignore. Multigenerational crowds are unified in their support of the chief executive and their state to uphold the constitutional attempt as a result of the city’s growing rallies.
Interviewed for Asia Times, Hwang Kyo-ahn, who was South Korea’s 44th prime minister and even served as justice secretary, shared his insight. Hwang offers a unique view on the unfolding social crisis having served as acting president during the impeachment and removal of President Park Geun-hye in 2016 and 2017.
Was President Yoon’s military law order justified?
An fundamental right bestowed on the main executive, an extraordinary power that supersedes common law, is for the disaster to be called martial law. However, one may comprehend the circumstances that led to President Yoon’s December 3 declaration of martial law.
Over the two and a half times since Yoon’s management took company, the opposition, wielding a majority in parliament, has effectively paralyzed the legislative branch. Most importantly, the de facto communist coalition, headed by the major opposition Democrat Party, has consistently obstructed the application of the president’s personal agendas.
The partnership, for example, has wielded its fiscal power for years, hiking members ‘ salaries while slashing financing for Yoon’s premier policies. They also eliminated the president’s specific activities finances, a crucial source for managing administrative operations.
Beyond economic measures, the criticism has constantly obstructed the visit of key personnel, putting pressure on them to retire even after taking office, or rejecting nominees during verification hearings. In a striking show of obstructionism, the Democrat Party has filed 29 prosecution motions against express officials, prosecutors and people until today. This is a record-breaking find unmatched by any previous leadership.
With President Yoon’s standard rights and social strategies stymied, he had no choice but to take actions. But, let there be no mistake. Yoon sought to overthrow the Constitution or any state instrument, but the order was never implemented by troops by force under the direction of the president.
Can you elaborate on the poll fraud disputes?
Another major motivation for President Yoon’s emergency martial law was to look into the automated system used by the National Election Commission and find the truth about allegations of election fraud. Conducting a thorough investigation during the peacetime is hardly possible because the percentage is an independent legal body with top judiciary members on staff. The army was then deployed to the Election Commission and related organizations to secure machines and important evidence in the context of martial law.
Election fraud claims first surfaced during the April 2020 and April 2024 public votes. Information includes faulty vote, improper seals, and vote boxes that were supposed to be sealed but were discovered open. In some towns, these irregularities and other political flaws have led to statistically unfeasible outcomes.
Through recounts that I and other candidates who were impacted negatively by the imperfect system, we were able to uncover these details. Over 1, 000 incorrect votes were found despite just 1, 900 citizens having been registered at a voting place in Incheon, for example. Min Kyung-wook, a former member of the US Parliament, tirelessly pursued this matter legally until the Supreme Court invalidated 279 erroneous votes. It did not alter the election results, yet.
A statement from the National Intelligence Service in October 2023 highlighted major flaws in the electoral roll, the vote-counting system, and the early voting system in South Korea. Unabhängig of one’s opinion on election scams, investigating an electoral program with obvious flaws may be merely common sense.
What do you think about the allegations of rebellion against President Yoon?
Subjective and objective criteria are two key concepts in criminal law. The objective condition addresses the act’s intended purpose. Without goal, punishment is not possible. The work itself is subject to the imperative necessity. If I punch a stranger, for example, that would meet the definition of an assault.
For a criminal verdict on rebellion charges, both parts may be present. In the case of President Yoon’s martial law, yet, neither was visible. There is no evidence that the leader authorized or intended for the legislature to be overthrown.
You claim the opponent’s ‘ despotism’ has never stopped. How thus?
On December 14, opposition events rammed through an prosecution movement in congress against President Yoon following a failed endeavor. He is accused of planning an insurrection through an unlawful martial law order, according to the motion, which Democratic Party lawmakers have actively supported recently.
The main opposition party is now moving to remove that claim from the senate articles, apparently in recognition of the difficulty of proving rebellion charges. Rather, they are shifting their focus to the dispute over Yoon’s says that he violated the law by declaring martial law on December 3.
By lowering the high-burden-of-proof rebellion cost, streamlined the content, allowing courts to hear fewer arguments, and reducing the number of witnesses, Yoon’s prosecution process. And specifically on this is the key opposition’s primary focus. In the end, Democratic Party politicians are determined to remove President Yoon from business as soon as possible, paving the way for opposition leader Lee Jae-myung to take the helm. For Lee, who is grappling with mounting legal problems, this situation is very appropriate.
The Democratic Party recently introduced a special counsel act to investigate Yoon for allegations of inciting North Vietnamese anger as well as for inciting insurrection. Their despotic endeavor, thus, shows no signs of abating.
I’ve long warned that assuming the role of a communist like Lee Jae-myung would bring about the demise of South Korea’s liberal democracy. We liberals must remain steadfast and fight until the last breath to accomplish this.