In South Korea, the suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, tried to take control with military force during a tough time in politics. A report shows that he told the military to be ready to fire their weapons to break into Parliament if needed. This plan happened on December 3, when he said he would declare martial law three times if it was necessary.
Yoon has already lost his presidential duties because of this attempt to end civilian rule, which upset many people and led to his impeachment. His lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, argued that the report from prosecutors is biased and not true.
When Yoon’s martial law declaration was being voted against in Parliament, troops entered the building by force, climbing fences and smashing windows. The report reveals that Yoon told military leaders to get inside and drag out the lawmakers, even if they had to use weapons.
After lawmakers voted 190-0 to cancel Yoon’s declaration, he told the military to keep trying because he could declare martial law again. The report also showed that Yoon had talked about declaring martial law with military leaders months earlier.
Yoon apologized a few days later for causing panic and promised not to try military control again. The former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun was arrested for his involvement in this failure. An opposition lawmaker called Yoon a “treasonous ringleader” and said he should be arrested right away.
A court is now looking into the impeachment and whether Yoon’s replacement, Han Duck-soo, will stay in power after not helping finish Yoon’s trial.
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