Seoul: Rival demonstrations erupted in the streets of Seoul on Wednesday as South Korea marked the one-year anniversary of a political crisis ignited by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law. Supporters of Yoon and those backing his successor, President Lee Jae-myung, took to the streets, highlighting the ongoing division within the nation.
According to Deutsche Welle, the past year has been turbulent for South Korean politics. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol is currently on trial facing multiple charges, including abuse of power, while his wife Kim Keon Hee is under investigation for corruption. Several of Yoon's political allies and senior military leaders associated with the martial law decision are also facing scrutiny.
President Lee, who secured a significant majority in the June general election, has leveraged his position to halt corruption investigations against himself and restructure government agencies, a move criticized by opponents. Under the leadership of Jang Dong-hyeok, the conservative People Power Party (PPP) struggles to present a robust opposition to Lee's Democratic Party (DP), with political power swinging decisively in favor of the ruling party.
Hyobin Lee, a professor at Sogang University in Seoul, shared insights with DW, noting that the PPP, despite the downfall of Yoon, remains the only viable conservative party. She indicated that while public support for the PPP stood at 37.5% as of December 1, many conservatives feel politically homeless if they do not support the PPP, regardless of their stance on Yoon's actions.
In a move to commemorate the martial law crisis, President Lee's administration declared the anniversary as "Peoples Sovereignty Day," emphasizing the public's role in defending democracy. Lee condemned the attempted coup for its potential to inflict "irreparable" harm on South Korea's democratic fabric.
Despite criticisms, President Lee enjoys a favorable approval rating of 54%, attributed to his perceived competence and decisive policymaking, including securing a nuclear-powered submarine deal with the United States. However, societal divisions remain stark, with a majority of the population feeling that polarization has intensified over the past year.
Kim Sang-woo, a former politician and board member of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation, expressed concerns to DW about the Democratic Party's consolidation of power. He emphasized the necessity for the PPP to act as a counterbalance to ensure democratic integrity, warning that the judiciary is the last bastion resisting the DP's influence.
As South Korea grapples with political and ideological schisms, the middle ground of the electorate increasingly turns away from politics, raising alarms about the future health of its democracy.