South Korea’s reputation has been rocked by martial law and president’s dismissal
The contrast could not have been more stark.
The elation of those who wanted Yoon Suk Yeoul out, and the despondency of those who stuck by him.
The former cried and danced in the streets. The latter proclaimed their anger and refusal to give up the fight.
It speaks to a reality in South Korea that will remain long after the banners and megaphones have been put away – a society more divided and polarised than it has been for decades.
This has come about partly due to social trends that we’ve seen play out elsewhere: generational inequality, culture wars, disinformation and social media.
But there is also a culture of vindictiveness within South Korean politics that pours petrol on the fire.
It has become almost a matter of course here to seek to impeach or prosecute for a wide variety of infringements.
In the nearly three years that Yoon has been in power, a remarkable 29 impeachment cases have been voted on by politicians in the national assembly. From lower level officials all the way up to the president himself.
A string of special prosecutor bills against Yoon’s close allies and even his wife are seen as having pushed him toward his radical martial law decision.
However valid such cases might have been, the culture leaves a bad taste in the mouths of ordinary Koreans who feel that their side is being politically prosecuted or at least like the system isn’t working in their interests.
And the instability matters enormously when you take a look at the broader international picture.
South Korea was always viewed in the West as one of the most stable democracies in Asia. An advanced economy and a vital ally in the face of aggression from the likes of China and North Korea.
While many here hope today’s unanimous ruling and lack of follow-up violence will draw a line under the issue, South Korea’s reputation has no doubt been rocked.
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Ironically this coincides with a period where its top adversary North Korea is entering a period of relative assuredness.
It has survived the isolation of the pandemic, and its supply of troops to help fight the war in Ukraine has bought it a powerful ally in Russia.
In contrast, South Korea is dealing with this domestic crisis while nervously watching Donald Trump step back from the US’s traditional allies.
There was a truly palpable sense of relief in Seoul today, the vast majority of Koreans wanted this outcome and are glad that the nightmare is over, but the impact will linger.