Author: Niu Tanqin
I never expected that South Korea would change overnight; President Yoon Suk-yeol has flipped the table.
On the night of December 3rd, he suddenly announced an emergency martial law in South Korea.
A friend asked: what is the concept of martial law?
This is a matter involving the core of the nation. It requires knives and guns, capturing and killing people. Remember, the last time South Korea imposed martial law was more than 40 years ago.
Subsequently, the South Korean military took to the streets, and citizens of Seoul protested, shocking countries around the world. But in the early hours of the morning, news came from the South Korean National Assembly that the martial law decree was overturned.
Everything is thrilling; South Korea had a sleepless night.
This is purely a personal opinion; here are ten key questions.
Question one, what is the trigger?
Yoon Suk-yeol argued that the emergency martial law was an 'inevitable move' for the perpetual existence of the Republic of Korea, aimed at eliminating 'influences from the North' and maintaining 'the order of liberty and constitutional governance.'
In other words, the opposition party is aggressive, and he, as president, cannot continue; a decisive battle is necessary!
But apart from these remarks, there is an undeniable factor: Yoon Suk-yeol's furious anger for the woman he loves.
The trigger was his wife Kim Keon-hee's bribery case. Kim Keon-hee accepted a Dior handbag, and the opposition party is holding on tightly, not ruling out the possibility that Kim Keon-hee might end up in jail. Yoon Suk-yeol could no longer tolerate it and directly announced martial law.
“For the woman I love, I declare war against the whole world!”
Don't think that such themes only play out in novels and on screen.
Question two, how does South Korea impose martial law?
South Korean Army General Park Han-soo was appointed as the martial law commander. The martial law command quickly issued the first martial law order: starting from 23:00 local time on the 3rd (22:00 Beijing time), martial law is to be enacted.
The first rule of martial law: prohibit activities of the National Assembly and local councils, as well as political activities, political associations, gatherings, demonstrations, and all other political activities.
What is this?
In fact, it's akin to a coup.
It's just that the president personally launched a coup, which is truly shocking.
What's more critical is that on one side is the president and military leaders, while on the other side is the opposition and ruling parties.
If even the ruling party does not stand by the president, things will become uncontrollable.
Question three, how do the South Korean people view this?
Shocking, shocking, still shocking.
The infighting in South Korea is intense; the whole world knows it. But the fact that the Supreme Leader has declared a state of emergency is still astonishing.
The leader of the opposition party, Lee Jae-myung, stated during a live stream: 'The martial law order is not to defend the constitution, but a fatal blow to democracy.'
A large number of citizens disregarded the martial law order, braving the severe cold to protest and prevent the military from entering the National Assembly.
Question four, what will the South Korean military do?
According to the general martial law, it must be the military being deployed, armed with guns, and even gunfire breaking out.
But the South Korean military is very slippery under martial law.
Military orders must be executed, so special forces were also deployed; however, excessive enforcement even led to bloodshed, and there will definitely be a reckoning in the future.
So, we see that Yoon Suk-yeol is very anxious, but the military is very relaxed. In fact, they are letting things slide, as a large number of lawmakers stormed into the National Assembly, and the opposition leader Lee Jae-myung even live-streamed while calmly climbing over the wall to enter the National Assembly.
It's very dramatic.
Question five, how do the U.S. and the world view this?
The attitude of the United States is crucial.
The United States has stated that it is 'closely monitoring the situation.' U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Campbell further commented: 'We are hopeful and expect any political disputes to be resolved peacefully in accordance with the rule of law.'
Observing the international reaction, it is almost overwhelmingly one of shock, condemnation, or calls for restraint, urging dialogue to resolve the issue.
This one-sidedness has exacerbated the isolation of the Yoon Suk-yeol government.
Question six, how will the South Korean National Assembly respond?
The National Assembly is a key force in South Korean politics.
Despite facing obstacles, 190 lawmakers successfully entered the National Assembly, surpassing the required majority, and the voting result was 190:0, lifting the martial law order.
The previously fierce battles between the opposition party and the ruling party have been set aside at this moment, shaking hands and reconciling, unanimously agreeing that Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law order is invalid.
Betrayed by everyone, Yoon Suk-yeol has completely lost.
In the early hours of the 4th, he had to state that he would withdraw the martial law troops and lift the martial law order.
Question seven, were there any prior signs?
In fact, that is also true.
As early as September this year, the opposition party revealed that Yoon Suk-yeol was likely to impose martial law.
But this has been deemed completely absurd, as the (Chosun Ilbo) commented at the time: 'Anyone with a bit of common sense would find this nonsense. If the government declares martial law, no one in the military would obey, and the government would likely collapse almost simultaneously. Which government would engage in such self-destructive behavior?'
I'm sorry, this is the South Korean presidential meeting.
Question eight, what will happen to Yoon Suk-yeol?
Now is his most dangerous moment. He must either voluntarily resign and bow out, be impeached and expelled from the presidential office, or follow in Roh Moo-hyun's footsteps and close his eyes to say goodbye to life.
As long as he is alive, the matter is not over. The final result will definitely be that he ends up in jail.
Various past scandals will surely be thoroughly investigated; the current emergency martial law will also undergo a comprehensive reckoning.
Before becoming president, as the prosecutor general, Yoon Suk-yeol investigated others; now, new prosecutors are investigating him and his whole family.
The cost of impulse.
Question nine, what do you think about the Blue House curse?
The whole world knows that the most dangerous job in South Korea is being the President.
In any case, no previous South Korean president, except Moon Jae-in, has had a good ending. Those who went to prison went, those who went into exile went, and those who committed suicide did so. This has been referred to as the 'Blue House curse' by the outside world.
Therefore, after becoming the president of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol resolutely refused to stay at the Blue House and forcibly took over the former Ministry of National Defense to change it into the presidential office.
The Blue House has changed, but the curse has not been broken.
Moreover, Yoon Suk-yeol's outcome may be even worse. Sigh, if I had known it would come to this, why become the president of South Korea!
Question ten, what will happen to China-South Korea relations?
This is South Korea's internal affairs, which will not significantly affect China-South Korea relations; we can just watch the drama.
However, after Yoon Suk-yeol took office, he was tough on the North, flattering towards Japan, and was even more compliant with the United States, causing the previously good China-South Korea relations to plummet.
Who knew that after all the trouble, he would end up like this.
You see him building high towers, you see him hosting guests, and then you see the towers collapse.
People are doing, and heaven is watching!
Finally, let me express a few thoughts: this is a historic night for South Korea. We saw the anger of love, saw the live-streamed wall-climbing into the National Assembly, saw both sides opposing the president, and saw helpless flowers falling. We should also expect to see the Supreme Leader in handcuffs entering prison...
From the president issuing the martial law order to the National Assembly abolishing it, it took less than three hours.
But many people's fates have been completely changed from this point.
No wonder Korean dramas are so exciting; because the reality in South Korea is even more thrilling!
Yoon Suk-yeol, oh Yoon Suk-yeol.
