In a move that surprised South Korea, the president Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law this Tuesday, generating an immediate political earthquake in the country. The president argued that the measure was necessary to “preserve the constitutional order,” but it was quickly interpreted as an attempt to control the opposition, which maintains the parliamentary majority. His decree, however, was short-lived: Parliament, dominated by the Democratic Partyquickly voted to lift martial law and the president then he annulled his decision.
Yoon Suk-yeol embodies a unique political phenomenon in South Korea: a former prosecutor turned president who has faced constant resistance during his tenure. With significantly low approval ratings, his administration is rejected by the majority of South Koreans. The situation has worsened after controversial declaration of martial lawbased on a poorly substantiated complaint about an alleged infiltration of North Korea in the opposition, which will foreseeably cause a new decline in his already reduced popularity.
Born on December 18, 1960 in Seodaemun, Seoulin a family of academics, Yoon grew up in the neighborhood of yeonhuian area then considered prosperous. Graduate of the Seoul National University in Law, he entered the judicial system in 1994.
His career was characterized by his relentless fight against corruption and his ability to put high-profile political figures on trial, both on the conservative and liberal spectrum. His judicial career catapulted him to fame when he achieved something almost unprecedented in South Korean politics: convicting two former presidents, Lee Myung-bak y Park Geun-hyefor corruption.
Yoon Suk-yeol’s rise to the presidency was marked by a rapid political trajectory. After resigning as attorney general in 2021, Yoon made it clear that his ambitions went beyond the judicial sphere. He ran as a presidential candidate for People Power Party (PPP), the main conservative party in South Korea. In a context of growing distrust towards the administration of Moon Jae-in and the Democratic Party (PD), Yoon presented himself as a political figure outside the system, highlighting his reputation as an independent prosecutor and his critical stance against political corruption.
The election campaign was extremely competitive, with a close battle between Yoon and the PD candidate, Lee Jae-myung. The March 10, 2022 election was one of the closest in South Korean history, with both candidates contesting every vote. The result was extremely close: Yoon won by less than 1% of the vote, reflecting the deep political polarization in the country.
Despite Yoon’s victory, political tensions remained high due to his party’s lack of control in Parliament. In fact, the PPP faced a complicated scenario, with an opposition in the National Assembly that maintained considerable influence, making it difficult to implement the promised reforms.
One of Yoon’s central promises was to implement economic and political reforms that would benefit citizens, especially amid the country’s economic difficulties. However, after assuming the presidency, he quickly faced the challenge of leading a minority governmentwhich significantly limited their possibilities of passing laws and carrying out important reforms.
The lack of control in the National Assembly fueled criticism of his administration. While the opposition accused him of being incompetent and disconnected from the South Korean economic reality, Yoon attempted to push policies to promote economic growth and social stability. However, political polarization and ongoing conflicts with the opposition remained a major obstacle to his agenda.
Yoon’s first term is marked by a historic circumstance: he is the first president of South Korean democracy who has never had full control of the National Assembly. This reflects the growing political fragmentation of the country, where the PD and other opposition groups maintain strong influence, challenging the South Korean president’s ability to consolidate his power and advance his policies.
The political situation became even more complicated with the legislative elections of April 11, 2024. The PD renewed its parliamentary majority with a more favorable result than in 2020, consolidating its position against Yoon. The result of the elections was interpreted as a “punishment” for his administration, considering that it had not responded adequately to the country’s economic challenges, such as the high cost of living and the growing social inequality.
Despite the PPP campaign, which sought citizen support for its reform agenda, South Koreans expressed their discontent with the government’s management, broadly favoring the PD and other opposition parties.
The 2024 electoral defeat highlighted Yoon’s lack of popularity, especially among young people and the sectors most affected by economic difficulties. Presidential policies have been perceived as disconnected from the real needs of the population, eroding his ability to generate consensus and advance his agenda.
A determining factor in Yoon’s political outlook is the inability to run for re-election in 2027 due to South Korea’s constitutional restrictions. This limitation significantly reduces his margin of action, preventing him from proposing long-term policies or seeking a second term to consolidate his power.
