South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sudden declaration of martial law, followed by its rapid repeal, dominated international news on Tuesday, raising alarm both in South Korea and abroad.
The Financial Times (FT) reported that Yoon accused “leftist forces controlling the National Assembly of collaborating with North Korea and plotting rebellion.” The British publication suggested that Yoon could use this political maneuver to consolidate right-wing support. However, it also warned that if this was the case, it could backfire and severely damage his political future.
The Economist also weighed in on the crisis, describing it as a political disaster for South Korea that has cast serious doubts on Yoon’s leadership. The magazine drew comparisons between Yoon’s actions and former military dictator Park Chung Hee, who ruled South Korea with an iron fist in the 1960s and 1970s. The Economist predicted that Yoon may have effectively sealed his fate, suggesting that the National Assembly will likely initiate impeachment proceedings if he doesn’t resign voluntarily.
Meanwhile, The Guardian characterized Yoon’s decision as a desperate gamble, made at a time when his approval ratings had already hit rock bottom. The newspaper pointed out that the National Assembly, including members of Yoon’s own party, unanimously voted to reverse his martial law declaration, indicating a serious misstep on his part.
In France, Le Monde described the events that transpired from Tuesday night to Wednesday’s early hours as South Korea’s most significant political crisis in more than 40 years. The newspaper reported that Yoon’s declaration of martial law effectively suspended all political activities, with the military surrounding the National Assembly. However, lawmakers gathered quickly and unanimously voted to lift the martial law, forcing Yoon to backtrack within just six hours.
Finally, Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine noted that this marks the first time since the fall of South Korea’s military dictatorship in the late 1980s that a sitting president has declared martial law. The newspaper also highlighted serious concerns raised by the United States, South Korea’s closest ally, with approximately 30,000 troops stationed there. The U.S. government reportedly expressed deep alarm over Yoon’s actions.