South Korean President declares martial law, shuts out National Assembly

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-...esident-yoon-declares-martial-law-2024-12-03/

So this isn’t great.

First time since 1980 martial law has been declared in SK.

Apparently it is due to the opposition controlled National Assembly considering impeaching him and other ministers.

The head of his own party is against it:

Ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, calling the decision "wrong," in a statement released late Tuesday. He added that he plans to stop the president's move "alongside the people."

https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241203050119

Hey, great! When Trump makes us join the Axis Of Evil with Russia, China, and North Korea, now South Korea can be on the winning team.
FF is overjoyed!

Maybe it is already over?

It took only ~2.5 hrs for the National Assembly to gather a majority of members (190 of 300) and generate a unanimous vote (190 of 190) to vote down the emergency martial law. The law says the president "shall comply" with parliament's vote, but doesn't specify a time frame.

https://bsky.app/profile/myhlee.bsky.social/post/3lcg25kobls2x

Have to see how the military responds.

Military says martial law will be maintained until lifted by president
published at 09:23

The South Korean military says it will maintain martial law until it is lifted by President Yoon Suk Yeol, despite the nation's parliament voting to block its enforcement, according to the country's national broadcaster.

It follows clashes between protesters and the security forces who tried to barricade the National Assembly.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn38321180et

Well that is not good.

Looks like his own party is solidifying against him:

Lawmakers of ruling party (PPP) demanding Yoon to accept Natl Assembly resolution and lift the decree.

https://bsky.app/profile/minseonku.bsky.social/post/3lcgbxx4vhc23

South Korean soldiers attempting to enter the National Assembly repelled by a fire extinguisher and camera flashes.

https://bsky.app/profile/menkvi.bsky.social/post/3lcg6fg46zs2j

This whole thing is insane.
But I can't look away.

Account to follow.

https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjeong.bsky.social

An editor at The Verge was getting fucked up with some National Assembly members near the National Assembly when the announcement went out at 1am and they all rushed in and she is doing true gonzo journalism.

"It feels like Yoon just got drunk and suddenly announced this late at night. It makes no sense," quipped one protester.

Soju.

Reuters: Yoon says he will lift the martial law after the National Assembly voted to cancel it

Per Reuters: Yoon also said martial law command forces have withdrawn, and that a cabinet meeting will be held as soon as possible.

https://bsky.app/profile/pwnallthethings.bsky.social/post/3lcgf5vbtqk2h

And reporters.

Lunchtime O'Booze is a thematic nickname in Private Eye for a reason.

Okay, got an actual Reuters link:

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-...martial-law-after-parliament-vote-2024-12-03/

Seems like it might really be over.

If. *IF* This is actually over I hope they don’t make our mistake and go bottom up in prosecuting the autocoup leaders.

Joe should get off (you get an order to show up somewhere in the middle of the night, you do it, it was all confusion and until you know something is wrong you follow orders. But to know something is wrong you have to know what the hell is going on and Joe can’t know that in a couple hours) but the higher ups in the military command need to be hammered hard.

Hard.

Both for their sake as we have learned with Jan 6 but also for our sake.

There are 29k soldiers in United States Forces Korea (USFK). It would be a useful example if the higher up ROK officers who initially went along with the autocoup get their dicks slammed in the door. Useful example for our military as they try and navigate the next four years.

It is nice to see how quickly his own party turned on him for overstepping.

Yes. I wonder what that must be like, having actual responsible people in government.

My wife booked a trip to South Korea next year.

I've been texting her updates all day.

https://bsky.app/profile/benjaminaengel.bsky.social/post/3lcgm3dgklk23

Some morning after analysis I found useful.

Summarize it, bitch.

Everybody died.
Absolutely everyone.

Whelp.

At least one poor SOB is gonna get shit for the attempted autocoup:

Sounds like these were all just a bunch of peaceful protesters. No one even died with their tit exposed on live TV.