By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-12-06 02:31:22 | Updated at 2024-12-26 00:53:13
2 weeks ago
South Korean opposition parties have expressed fears over a second coup bid by an “agitated” President Yoon Suk-yeol who continues to maintain silence on his short-lived martial law declaration that has exposed divisions within the ruling cabinet.
Yoon imposed the measure late Tuesday but revoked it hours later after lawmakers nullified the order. He faces an impeachment vote on Saturday.
The misguided decree also stoked discontent in Yoon’s administration, with Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong calling it “illegitimate” and “unconstitutional”.
“I expressed my opposition to the martial law decree during the cabinet meeting,” Cho said on Thursday, adding that most cabinet members were against the move before Yoon abruptly left the conference.
“I was deeply shocked and at a loss for what to do.”
The president was “in an agitated state of mind” during the brief coup attempt, Chosun Daily reported, while lawmaker Park Sun-won of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said Yoon’s efforts failed partly because martial law troops arrived 40 minutes late due to air traffic restrictions over the Seoul metropolitan area.
