Yoon Suk Yeol’s party offered him the chance of a dignified exit but he chose to double down on his martial law gambit

Summary

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached after declaring martial law amid scandals and public outrage.

When Yoon narrowly won the 2022 election, he was already divisive, positioning himself as an arch-conservative by appealing to young male voters with promises to abolish the gender equality ministry, claiming women did not face systemic discrimination.

His term saw criticism for mishandling the Itaewon crowd crush, suppressing press freedom, and overreaching against unions.

His martial law order, condemned by both young and older generations, alienated even his own party, sealing his downfall.

  • @[email protected]English
    9•3 months ago

    I wish other countries wrestling with authoritarian backsliding would take a page out of South Korea’s book here