South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol got a lesson in people power this week after his attempt to reassert authority backfired spectacularly.
Yoon – whose popularity has tanked in recent months, including over alleged corruption scandals – applied martial law to South Korea, something not seen since the days of dictatorship in the 1970s.
Initially referencing North Korea and communist actors, it became clear Yoon’s main target was a parliament hostile to his plans and who had recently thwarted budgets.
But people power won out, as protesters took to the streets, lawmakers stood firm, the media kept reporting, and the military exercised restraint. Far from strengthening his position, Yoon now faces impeachment.
What lessons to draw? Once democracy is established it becomes hard to unwind. People get used to freedoms and guardrails become stronger.
Having lived in Seoul I can vouch for the fact South Koreans take their freedoms super seriously given how hard-fought these were, and how much of it contrast this offers with North Korea.
Yoon should have read the room, appreciating the South Korean people for who they are, and would have been better served by cooperating with his opponents in parliament rather than acting rashly.
In many ways this episode should increase confidence in South Korea, her people, democracy and economy, taking into account how robust the response to Yoon was and how fast the martial law implementation was lifted.
One thing to note however is that Yoon is uniquely hostile to China and warm to Japan. With him gone – if that’s where this is going – chances are the anti-China alliance in East Asia loses some momentum, as attitudes could soften to Beijing (and Pyongyang) and harder towards Tokyo.
With Donald Trump coming to power in the US next month, that could have repercussions beyond the region.
