What is going on in South Korea and what does it mean for the region and US foreign policy?
All your questions answered, this Friday! With James Park, @nslavney.bsky.social, and Nathan Park.
quincyinst.org/events/the-a...
Update: Joint investigation team fails to deliver summons to Yoon Suk Yeol after being turned away at both presidential office and residence. Presidential security refused to accept documents, citing lack of jurisdiction. Team says express mail delivery sent as backup.
Separate investigation unit - consisting of police, anti-corruption office and military investigators - to send own summons to Yoon Suk Yeol today, requesting Dec 18 (Wed) questioning.
He is accused of insurrection and abuse of power.
Parallel to prosecutors' probe.
Seeing some takes that South Korea’s victory today is thanks to defections within the ruling party. Of course there is some truth to this—but it should not be the main lesson. Without the public pressure for accountability, would they have showed up + voted their conscience?
Protesters erupted into cheers the moment the impeachment vote passed:
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says he will “never give up” and called for officials to maintain government stability during what he described as a “temporary” pause of his presidency.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdzL...
Details of the impeachment bill:
1/ The second bill to impeach President Yoon will be voted on soon. Filed by 6 opposition parties, it accuses him of violating constitutional principles through his actions on the night of Dec 3, 2024.
Key allegations: www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR2024...
BREAKING: The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a two-year prison sentence against minor Rebuilding Korea Party chief Cho Kuk on charges of fabricating official documents and interfering in a state audit of a Busan city official.
Investigations into Yoon's alleged corruption & mishandling of domestic issues are underway, placing pressure on his administration. The fallout may redefine South Korea's political landscape for years to come. More on this from @kaitlynking.bsky.social & I here: www.stimson.org/2024/implica...
Insane, if true: "The HID unit were not dressed in the ROK military uniform. Instead, they were given a false North Korean uniform. The plan was to have the HID unit either assassinate Lee and others, and if that failed, have the 'rescuing' South Korean soldiers to kill both Lee and the HID unit."
Ope 👀
As we begin another day of political uncertainty in Seoul,
- It's still unclear who is running what in the country
- No details about any power sharing arrangement that allegedly exists
- We don't know the legal rationale for any such deal
- The presidential office has essentially gone dark
1/ Breaking: South Korea's prime minister Han Duck-soo and ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon announce President Yoon will cease involvement in state affairs, call for his "orderly early resignation" following failed martial law attempt. www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR2024...
The conservative ruling party chief said late last night: "Yoon will be effectively stripped of his duties until he retreats, and the prime minister will take care of state affairs in consultation with the party."
Yoon also hinted at this in his Saturday speech.
Talked to some protesters at length-- they told me they came out expecting impeachment to fail but that it was important to come out anyways and put pressure on the legislature. "See you next weekend, you bastards," one said.
BREAKING: South Korea’s president avoids impeachment after martial law misstep
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/1...
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke publicly for the first time since the martial law debacle. His statement was short and defiant. He said he won’t evade repercussions, signaled he won’t leave the party or resign (things party members asked him to do so he won’t be impeached).
Full text:
It's been quite the week! Check out this 🧵 for more @38north.org & @stimsonkorea.bsky.social staff coverage of what's been happening in South Korea:
1/ Lawmakers are expected to vote tomorrow on the motion to impeach President Yoon. While passage looks likely unless Yoon steps down before, attention now turns to the Constitutional Court process that would follow:
www.theguardian.com/world/2024/d...
"The incident fits a pattern under Yoon, a former prosecutor general, whose administration is pursuing criminal charges against critical journalists and media outlets at a record pace."
23. the commander of the Special Warfare Command is conducting a YouTube live interview NOW. He has acknowledged Yoon's active role in deploying the military and stated that, even if Yoon attempts to mobilize the military again, the Special Warfare Command will not follow those orders.
At this rate, the opposition could be pushing for impeachment bill vote today (Dec 6 local Korea time). It doesn’t make sense to wait till Dec 7.
Right now, the PPP has stated that they will not support the impeachment of Yoon. But will they stick to this line, or try to cut ties? And if LJM is toast, who is the next likely DP candidate? www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2...
The third most popular party in the April election was the National Innovation Party, led by former Justice Minister Cho Kuk under the Moon Jae-in administration. This is extra spicy because Yoon was the prosecutor who forced Cho to resign.
The PPP is currently led by Han Dong-hoon, the first justice minister under the Yoon administration who stepped down to take over as interim PPP chairman.
As @kaitlynking.bsky.social & I outlined in our primer earlier this year, there were a lot of new parties and short-lived mergers this past April, along with some clear leaders in the pack. www.stimson.org/2024/south-k...
A big question as Yoon's impeachment looms: Who are the front runners from the PPP and DP? Lee Jae-myung is currently appealing an indictment for 2022 election meddling. If that appeal fails, he will be banned from running in 2027, which I assume would apply to a snap election if Yoon is impeached?
If soldiers did indeed show up to arrest him when martial law was enacted on December 3, it is further proof of the chilling effect against domestic media that threatens South Korea's freedom of speech.
Kim Ou-joon had an extremely popular podcast on TBS--he was one of the first victims of the Yoon admin's retaliatory anti-defamation cases when the show's funding was cut. www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=...
Just one minute after Yoon finished his televised declaration of martial law, his troops' first destination was the National Election Commission in Gwacheon. (30 minutes from Seoul)
Questions persist regarding why Yoon/Kim chose to seize this election commission office before the National Assembly.
