Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the News Hour. Today, for the first time since South Korea became a democracy, some 40 years ago, a South Korean president declared martial law.
Jeff (00:09):
But hours later, the opposition and members of his own party in Parliament rejected the order, and President Yoon Suk Yeol has now rescinded it. Nick Schifrin is here following this story. Nick, what's the latest?
Nick (00:20):
Jeff, a senior administration official tells me tonight, the US said to South Korean officials that Yoon's declaration was "untenable" and urged them to reverse it quickly. And the official warns that Yoon might not survive this episode that could have threatened the stability of one of the US's most important allies.
(00:41)
In Seoul tonight, they stormed the institution they pledged to protect. Special forces soldiers acting under martial law fought with protesters and pushed back opposition politicians from entering Parliament.
(00:57)
Inside, the only thing that stopped soldiers from the Parliament floor, furniture deployed by opposition staffers. That allowed Parliament to vote down the martial law declaration 190 to 0, a step demanded not only by the leader of the opposition who livestreamed himself jumping over the fence to get to Parliament but also by the leader of Yoon's own party who said, "The President's declaration of martial law is wrong. With our people, we will stop it." Afterwards, security forces rushed out of Parliament. Protesters celebrated a battle won, and Yoon revoked his own declaration.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
I will accept the National Assembly's demand and lift martial law through a Cabinet meeting.
Nick (01:44):
Six hours earlier, Yoon, whose approval rating has been under 20% and who's resisted investigations into his wife, accused the opposition of being infiltrated by North Korea.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
I declare martial law to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean, anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people.
Nick (02:06):
His decree prohibited all political activities, imposed government control over the media, and banned ongoing strikes by South Korean doctors.
(02:18)
But thanks to immediate protests, it's not clear any of that actually happened.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
A long, long time ago.
Nick (02:24):
For the last two years, President Yoon has been a vital US ally.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
How music used to make me smile.
Nick (02:35):
Singing from the same Biden Administration's song sheet to advocate for global democracy and expand regional cooperation against North Korea and China. Behind the scenes, the US wanted to see the crisis end.
Kurt Campbell (02:47):
We have every hope and expectation that any political disputes will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.
Nick (02:56):
The senior US official told me that some of Yoon's own advisers were "shocked and humiliated" by his declaration, and tonight it appears Yoon could soon be impeached or forced to resign. To discuss this day of crisis and what comes next, I'm joined by Frank Jannuzi, President and CEO of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, which works to foster understanding between the United States and nations across Asia. Frank Jannuzi, thanks very much. Welcome back.
Frank Jannuzi (03:20):
Good evening.
Nick (03:20):
To the News Hour. Do you think this political crisis at this point is over?
Frank Jannuzi (03:24):
No, there are still more shoes to drop. Specifically, I believe that President Yoon is going to be hard-pressed both by impeachment and by voices within his own party to consider stepping down. But if he does so, it doesn't just end his own presidency, it potentially ends the ruling party's occupancy of the presidential office because special elections would be held within 60 days. And at the present time, the opposition is well-positioned to win those.
Nick (03:52):
Let me get to the implications of that, especially with President Trump becoming president just in a couple months. But first, let's go back to today. Why do you think Yoon declared martial law?
Frank Jannuzi (04:02):
Look, what precipitated this crisis were numerous frustrations of the president. First, he can't get a budget through the Congress, which is controlled by the opposition party, they're investigating his wife for allegations of various fraudulent stock manipulations as well as taking gifts, and they've also been, frankly, working to impeach him already. His popularity has been very low, and this has the hallmarks of a desperation move of a man not very well accustomed to politics.
Nick (04:32):
Speaking of politics, a senior administration official who I spoke to today who I was quoting earlier, told me the message to South Korean officials was that the declaration was "untenable and to reverse it while they could." But the official also said it wasn't US pressure that made Yoon change course. Do you believe that?
Frank Jannuzi (04:50):
I think US pressure was essential, but it was not the only ingredient, US pressure deprived Yoon of any hope that he might've had that the Biden administration would stand by him while he shredded South Korea's democracy. But it was the voices in his own party that were decisive, much as Republican leaders once were responsible for Nixon choosing to resign, it was the opposition party in league with the People's Power Party, who together, Yoon's own party, that forced him to rescind this martial law order.
Nick (05:23):
As you mentioned, if Yoon doesn't survive, it's expected the Democratic Party, the opposition, would come to power. And as I alluded to, that is the party that was the partner of Donald Trump to reach out to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. So what would the opposition's priorities be when it would come to North Korea and China?
Frank Jannuzi (05:44):
Well, on the one hand, the opposition party today is less pro-China than they used to be, and they're more really impressed with the importance of the US-Japan ROK Triangle, but they would open the door potentially to a new diplomatic initiative with North Korea, something that President Yoon has staunchly opposed, and even had Biden wanted to make such an initiative, President Yoon would've stood in his way.
Nick (06:11):
And so, this is guessing perhaps, but how would they work with the Trump administration?
Frank Jannuzi (06:15):
I would expect that the main issues will still be tensions over things like host nation support for US Alliance forces on the Peninsula as well as-
Nick (06:23):
The number of US soldiers in South Korea and how much they pay.
Frank Jannuzi (06:26):
…and how much South Korea pays the US to help support that presence as well as trade frictions because President Trump has signaled his intention to impose tariffs, which would have a negative effect on the South Korean economy. So those tensions will still be there, but when it comes to the potential outreach toward North Korea, there may be an opening.
Nick (06:44):
And finally, this has been a dramatic day. You have mentioned democracy, you've mentioned the Constitution multiple times. What do you think this day says about South Korea's democracy?
Frank Jannuzi (06:56):
Well, Nick, I was with Biden 25 years ago when he welcomed Kim Dae-jung, really the father of South Korean democracy, to Washington, DC in 2001. And I think what this really says is that South Korea's democracy for all of its warts is resilient in the face of a move to restore some kind of authoritarianism, and so it gives me hope that notwithstanding the street protests and the tussle of South Korean politics, that their democracy is resilient.
Nick (07:30):
Frank Jannuzi, thank you very much.
Frank Jannuzi (07:32):
Thank you, Nick.