SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

South Korea's Yoon in trouble – minister in focus

South Korea's President Yoon Suk-Yeol has not appeared since he shook the country with a military emergency decree. The opposition demands impeachment and resignations. The outgoing Defense Minister – who has made a public apology – is at the center and risks severe penalties.

» Published: 05 December 2024

South Korea's Yoon in trouble – minister in focus
Photo: Lee Jin-Man/AP/TT

Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun is accused of having had a major role in the short-lived state of emergency declared on Tuesday. After being dismissed from his job, he was banned on Thursday from leaving South Korea, as he remains under investigation.

Kim, a former general who was appointed minister in August, apologized on Wednesday and took responsibility for the unrest caused by the sudden state of emergency. He is the only top politician to have appeared in public.

President Yoon Suk-Yeol and the defense minister are both being investigated for treason, since the police have received reports from both opposition politicians and members of the public.

Yoon attempted to carry out a coup but failed, according to opposition leader Lee Jae-Myung's description of the events.

Claiming a united no

On Saturday, the National Assembly in Seoul will vote on impeachment of the president. The opposition has a clear majority in the chamber and only needs to win over a small group of lawmakers from the ruling party, the People's Party, to succeed.

However, the leader of the People's Party claims that all its lawmakers will vote against impeachment.

All 108 lawmakers for the People's Party will stand united and reject the proposal for impeachment, says Choo Kyung-Hoo during a live broadcast party meeting.

President Yoon's party colleagues are taking a stand against him in a different way.

I have demanded that he leave the party, says party leader Hang Dong-Hoon.

Sudden announcement

The demands for resignation and impeachment have their basis in Yoon's decision on Tuesday to declare a military state of emergency, which he suddenly announced on live television. Military personnel entered the parliament building, but its lawmakers still gathered and voted down the president's decree. Yoon withdrew it after six hours.

It was the first time since the dictatorship era of the 1970s that a president declared such a state of emergency, with corresponding war laws.

Yoon motivated his move by saying that the opposition was paralyzing the government's work, by not accepting a proposed budget bill, and for being more favorably inclined towards the communist regime in North Korea.

Regarding the criminal investigation, a revolt can in theory be punished with death in South Korea, but in practice, the death penalty has long been abolished.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Hamas has a new Sinwar - and he's recruiting
3 MIN READ

Hamas has a new Sinwar - and he's recruiting

Investigator Criticizes Biden for Slander
2 MIN READ

Investigator Criticizes Biden for Slander

North Korea Provokes with Rockets
1 MIN READ

North Korea Provokes with Rockets

21-year-old Norwegian reaches the South Pole
1 MIN READ

21-year-old Norwegian reaches the South Pole

The police lift Borg Høyby's restraining order
1 MIN READ

The police lift Borg Høyby's restraining order

Bill proposal on Greenland is taken up in the US Congress
1 MIN READ

Bill proposal on Greenland is taken up in the US Congress

Over 100 gold diggers may have died in illegal mine
1 MIN READ

Over 100 gold diggers may have died in illegal mine

Secret Meetings Between Iran and Europe
1 MIN READ

Secret Meetings Between Iran and Europe

Civil Defense: Over 50 Killed in Gaza City
1 MIN READ

Civil Defense: Over 50 Killed in Gaza City

Expert on fires: "Diabolical conditions"
2 MIN READ

Expert on fires: "Diabolical conditions"

Independence most important, according to Greenland's leader
2 MIN READ

Independence most important, according to Greenland's leader

Castle Summit for EU in February
1 MIN READ

Castle Summit for EU in February

Challenge for the UN's top judge to lead Lebanon
2 MIN READ

Challenge for the UN's top judge to lead Lebanon

Boko Haram suspected of deadly attack
1 MIN READ

Boko Haram suspected of deadly attack

Many dead and missing after landslide in Myanmar
1 MIN READ

Many dead and missing after landslide in Myanmar

Drones spotted over military areas in Germany
1 MIN READ

Drones spotted over military areas in Germany

Suspected Mafia Members Arrested in Spain
1 MIN READ

Suspected Mafia Members Arrested in Spain

Russia and Iran in a "strategic partnership"
1 MIN READ

Russia and Iran in a "strategic partnership"

New EU Billions to Ukraine
1 MIN READ

New EU Billions to Ukraine

EU Base Still Ill - But Soon Back
1 MIN READ

EU Base Still Ill - But Soon Back