I have yet to understand today's 'coup' in South Korea.
Last night the elected president declared martial law. Law makers are currently barred from entering the parliament.
Could someone knowledgeable about South Korea please explain this to me?
The president of South Korea is the head of state and the head of the government. He is directly elected for a five year term:
The current president, Yoon Suk Yeol, a former prosecutor general and member of the conservative People Power Party, assumed office on 10 May 2022, after defeating the Democratic Party's nominee Lee Jae-myung with a narrow 48.5% plurality in the 2022 South Korean presidential election.
The president chooses a prime minister to run the daily government business.
The National Assembly is the unicameral legislature of South Korea. Since 2020 the majority in the parliament is held by the Democratic Party. In this year's parliament election it gathered some 175 of the 300 seats while the president's People Power Party only holds 108 seats.
During cohabitation, whenever an executive government is led by a different party than the legislature, there are always conflicts about priorities. These often plays out during the budget process.
This is exactly what happened in South Korea:
Rival parties wrangled Tuesday over next year's budget bill as the ruling People Power Party (PPP) insisted on keeping the government's proposal, while the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) demanded a revision to increase the issuance of local currency vouchers.
Local currency vouchers seem to be a form of credit designed to help small merchants and the self-employed:
The current bill proposed by the majority DP puts next year's budget at 677.4 trillion won (US$485.3 billion), down 4.1 trillion won from the government's initial proposal, following cuts in the government's reserve fund and the special activity expenses of the presidential office's secretariat and national security office, as well as those of the prosecution, the state audit agency and the police.
"Without an apology from the Democratic Party and the withdrawal of the budget bill that was passed unilaterally, we will not agree to any kind of talks," PPP floor leader Rep. Choo Kyung-ho told reporters.
"If the DP wants to talk about increasing the budget (to issue more) local currency vouchers, they should have negotiated with us before passing it unilaterally," he said.
The Democratic Party has a majority in the National Assembly. It has reduced the government's proposed budget by 0.6% because the governing party rejected an increase by 0.3% that would have helped the majority party's constituency.
To me that looks like a very minor kerfuffle.
But if that is the issue why is the president, who's approval rating is below 20%, now using extraordinary powers to solve it?
South Korea president declares emergency martial law – CNN, Dec 3 2024
President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in an unannounced late-night TV address Tuesday, accusing the country’s main opposition party of sympathizing with North Korea and of anti-state activities.
Yoon did not say what specific measures would be taken. He cited a motion by the opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, to impeach top prosecutors and reject a government budget proposal.
Yoon labeled the opposition’s actions as “clear anti-state behavior aimed at inciting rebellion.” He further claimed these acts have “paralyzed state affairs and turned the National Assembly into a den of criminals.”
He describing martial law as a necessary measure to eradicate these “shameless pro-North anti-state forces.” He justified the decision as essential to protect the freedoms and safety of the people, ensure the country’s sustainability, and pass on a stable nation to future generations.
The parliament speaker is traveling to parliament and plans to convene a session, according to local broadcaster YTN TV. Yonhap news agency reported though that the entrance to parliament is blocked and lawmakers are unable to enter.
The president's "pro-North anti-state forces" description of the Democratic Party is simply unhinged.
A majority in the National Assembly could lift the martial law but is currently unable to gather.
The assembly can also impeach the president but it needs two-third of the votes to do so. The DP could probably get those as at least parts of the People Power Party have rejected the president's martial law declaration.
The current situation is confused. What are the president's aims and how does he think he can achieve those?
The U.S. is very involved, if not in control of, South Korean domestic policies. President Yoon is its man. One wonders how much it has influenced, or even caused the current conflict.
What is the Biden's administration role and position in this?