Yoon Suk Yeol’s Rise to Power:
- Former Prosecutor General, Yoon became President in 2022 despite limited political experience.
- Gained popularity for prosecuting former conservative Presidents, but his tenure has been controversial.
Relevance : GS 2 (International Relations )
Political Divide in South Korea:
- Sharp ideological, regional, and generational divides between conservatives and liberals.
- This polarization has led to protests, political vendettas, and legal challenges against past Presidents.
Controversial Foreign Policies:
- Yoon’s foreign policies, such as reaching out to Japan and supporting Ukraine, have strained relations with Russia, China, and SouthKoreanliberals.
- His decision to attend NATO summits and his stance on North Korea further alienated sections of the population.
Domestic Challenges and Unpopularity:
- Low approval ratings (20%-30%) due to perceived incompetence and failure to address South Korea’s economic issues.
- Corruption scandals involving his wife and controversial policies, such as the doubling of medical student seats, worsened his image.
Opposition Strengthens:
- In the April 2024 National Assembly elections, opposition parties won 192 out of 300 seats, challenging Yoon’s governance.
- Increased opposition assertion against Yoon’s policies and appointments.
Martial Law Declaration:
- In December 2024, in response to growing opposition, Yoondeclaredemergency martial law.
- The National Assembly rejected it, forcing Yoon to withdraw the declaration by the following day.
Impeachment Process:
- An initial impeachmentmotionfailed due to the ruling PPP’s abstention.
- A second impeachment motion on December 14, 2024, succeeded with 204 votes in favor.
- Yoon has refused to resign and plans to challenge the impeachment in the Constitutional Court.
Legal Battle Ahead:
- The Constitutional Court will deliberate on the impeachment, but the outcome remains uncertain.
- Yoon hopes for a favorable ruling, although the court’s composition includes conservative-leaning judges.
Weak Democratic Institutions:
- The crisis exposes weaknesses in South Korea’s democraticinstitutions, with immature political leadership and unstable governance.
- The ongoing political turmoil poses a threat to the country’s democratic integrity.
Public Consensus on Democratic Crisis:
- Despite divisions, there is a sharedconcern about the existentialthreat to democracy.
- If the crisis remains unresolved, it could severely impact South Korea’s international image and democratic future.
