“Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Keon-hee face rising scrutiny as political tensions escalate in South Korea.”
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, are under intense public and political scrutiny following a failed martial law declaration. The unexpected announcement, made late Tuesday night, was retracted by early Wednesday morning after widespread backlash from lawmakers and citizens.
President Yoon stated the martial law was necessary to safeguard South Korea from “pro-North Korea anti-state groups.” However, critics, including former British diplomat Dr. Jim Hoare, dismissed the justification, calling it a drastic political manoeuvre. This marked the first such declaration since 1979 and sparked immediate protests outside the National Assembly.
The controversy surrounding the president is not new. Yoon’s presidency has been marred by several crises, including his response to the 2022 Itaewon crowd disaster and his government’s financial policies. Yoon’s anti-feminist stance and the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality have also drawn widespread criticism.
First Lady Kim Keon-hee has faced allegations ranging from tax evasion to involvement in stock manipulation. Despite denials and legal clearances, public scepticism persists, fuelled by the president’s repeated vetoes of bills aimed at further investigating her.
While Yoon’s retracted martial law declaration temporarily quelled the immediate unrest, it has emboldened opposition groups. Labour unions have launched an indefinite strike demanding his resignation, further heightening the country’s political tensions.
