Korea

is something very very bad about to happen?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn38321180et

Live reporting for context. I suspect it’s a response to something designed to be disruptive and destabilizing rather than conflict level. But what TF do I know.

Last ditch, desperate throw of the dice by a leader struggling to retain power.

Even that coverage doesn’t say much at the moment. “Yoon said the decision was made to remove pro-North Korea forces from the country” sounds like the North have invaded, but assume it’s not as clear as that

AJ have a tiny bit more…

“The National Assembly has also completely cut budgets essential for national operations, drug crime prevention, and public safety, undermining the core functions of the state,” the president added. “This has left our citizens in a state of chaos, with the nation becoming a haven for drugs and public safety collapsing.”

Yoon has also been dismissing calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals.

I’m told the short version is that the current leader is a right wing oddball, and the more liberal party have just taken over in the parliament, and won’t do what they’re told. Ergo, panic and attempt to oust dissenters with accusations of NK interlopers

Sounds like a case of “I’ve lost my grip, lets point the finger at the opposition being part of the Kim Jong Un fan club”

Yoon has also been dismissing calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials

If my wife was engaging in scandalous activities with top officials, I probably wouldn’t want public probes either.

Blimey…

At least Squid Games S2 has been made and ready for release !

Serious head on now…

I can’t see it lasting* I reckon once the military leaders have a conversation with other sensible senior politicians who make them realise the pres is a fruitloop, it’ll all calm down and he’ll be deposed and arrested.

*I have poor form for such predictions, my gut feeling.

I’m told the short version is that the current leader is a right wing oddball,

Thank God America isn’t daft enough to elect someone like that. Oh, wait…..

This is going to be an interesting test case of whether a developed prosperous country can maintain political stability and the rule of law following the unilateral actions of a rogue leader, or whether it descends into chaos, violence and economic collapse. You can’t help but wonder about the parallels with the US.

Hopefully the Korean president went too early and US will step in. Had he waited till after 20th January that might well have changed things. Its still a tense situation with the potential to destabilise the region – the stakes are high unfortunately.

Dont think I’d really registered South Korea only became a democracy in 1987

Voted down unanimously in parliament (190-0, which means 110, presumably the People Power party + a couple of others, abstained or were not present/unable to vote). But overwhelming regardless.

The martial law declaration tried to avoid this by specifically outlawing the national assembly and so the president is bound to declare this unlawful… But apparently SK law specifically gives the assembly the power to cancel martial law declarations.

So it seems like that mostly either ends it, or turns it into an fully military coup rather than the soft one he’s attempting. Rumblings from military officials that they will defy the national assembly unless the president specifically stands them down. Could get pretty wild but tbh it doesn’t realyl feel like he has the support.

Does seem a bit of an over-reaction to Johnny Somali being in S Korea?

General strike announced in protest (and if understand it right they’re saying not just against marshall law, but til the president resigns) now being reported the president has backed down and is cancelling the martial law. So wtf was that all about- desperate gamble, total miscalculation, testing the water, rattling the sabre?

South Korea has a habit of putting their leaders in jail, I guess he will heading for jail after this fiasco.

Police/Army were blocking access to parliament so the 190 that voted were all the cross party that could get in, largely by climbing over the fence outside. President Yoon’s own People Power Party, leader Han Dong-hoon got into the building. Shook hands with Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung. Publicly stated support for the vote. Yoon has now stood down the army and cancelled martial law.

Cant see Yoon lasting beyond tomorrow after this.

Dont think I’d really registered South Korea only became a democracy in 1987

Easy to forget that it’s still a young democracy.

You can’t help but wonder about the parallels with the US.

.

South Korea has a habit of putting their leaders in jail,

.

Fingers crossed…

Andy
Full Member

President Yoon’s own People Power Party, leader Han Dong-hoon got into the building. Shook hands with Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.

I’d missed this, that’s a pretty strong message.

I’d missed this, that’s a pretty strong message.

I understand he arrived well after the vote to add his support. Democracy done properly

Cant see Yoon lasting beyond tomorrow after this.

https://news.sky.com/story/south-korea-live-updates-members-of-parliament-could-be-arrested-after-emergency-martial-law-declared-13266031

Lots of updates overnight. He appears to have acted alone, martial law appears to be lifted and proceedings to impeach have begun and according to one commentator it’s very likely to succeed.

It’s “very likely” that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will be impeached, an expert on Korea from the School of Oriental and African Studies tells Sky News.

Yoon is facing an impeachment motion over his shock attempt to impose martial law in the country yesterday, which he eventually reversed after a vote against the declaration by the National Assembly.

Speaking to Owen Miller says he believes the impeachment will more than likely succeed.

“Considering the shock of the situation, considering how far the current president gambled on this. I just can’t see him surviving. I just cannot see it happening,” he says.

“Lawmakers quite easily voted down the martial law declaration last night. They got that majority easily. I suspect that they will get the two-thirds majority for an impeachment.”

After the impeachment, Miller says he then “can’t see any other outcome” than the opposition Democratic Party winning a subsequent election in South Korea.

Apparently, all or nearly all the past presidents have been imprisoned for corruption!

[futonrivercrossing]

futonrivercrossing

Free Member

Apparently, all or nearly all the past presidents have been imprisoned for corruption!

this isnt surprising, the way of doing business in SK is still very much in the dark ages with expensive gifts, holidays, golf etc still playing a huge role in winning contracts.

Apparently, all or nearly all the past presidents have been imprisoned for corruption!

So glad this failed. I can just imagine the Victor Orbans and Donald Trumps of this world being encouraged if it had and thinking “martial law? Military coup? What a great idea”!  Not that they still wouldn’t consider it 🙁

this isnt surprising, the way of doing business in SK is still very much in the dark ages with expensive gifts, holidays, golf etc still playing a huge role in winning contracts.

Thankfully nothing like that would ever happen in the UK… (Insert dubious emoji face)

Dont think I’d really registered South Korea only became a democracy in 1987

There’s a really good film about the Gwangju Uprising that started a series of events that led to South Korea becoming a democracy. The film is called A Taxi Driver and is worth a watch.

You can’t help but wonder about the parallels with the US.

You could hardly find two more different societies in democratic countries.

https://theconversation.com/what-short-lived-martial-law-says-about-south-korean-democracy-and-the-position-of-president-yoon-245259?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=ConversationUS/magazine/Conversation+US

You can’t help but wonder about the parallels with the US.
You could hardly find two more different societies in democratic countries.

True, but I think the comment was referring to Yoon and Trump in their rhetoric and political views. The above article gives a bit more background to his history, and also South Korea’s history – it only became a democracy in 1987.

this isnt surprising, the way of doing business in SK is still very much in the dark ages with expensive gifts, holidays, golf etc still playing a huge role in winning contracts.

I’ve heard tales from some of my colleagues dealing with Korean based suppliers.

It’s eye opening, and they can get quite offended when you turn the gifts down.