The reasons behind President Yoon’s ill-prepared putsch remain unclear (as does Emmanuel Macron’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly at a highly inauspicious time).
Mobilisation against illegal acts
The bad news is that the army (or a section of the general staff) began by supporting the President, even though he was acting illegally (the Constitution requires the agreement of MPs to proclaim martial law). Special forces equipped with considerable means (armoured vehicles, helicopters) were to storm parliament and arrest opposition leaders. The number of soldiers involved in the operation was nevertheless limited, which explains how, faced with an unforeseen situation, they could be overwhelmed.
The good news is that this attempted putsch was thwarted in record time thanks to the fierce resistance of the civil servants and opposition staff on the ground, as well as a massive mobilisation of citizens who came to their aid in the middle of the night and the morning, bringing together generations, many young people, activists and trade unionists. This enabled 190 elected representatives to enter Parliament and repeal martial law, with the support of a small number of members of the government party.
The reasons behind this mobilisation show the vitality of South Korean democracy, where memories of the dictatorship have not faded. The army’s intervention shows that its stability is not as secure as it might seem (martial law had not been imposed since 1979). Mobilisations are continuing today, calling for the resignation or removal of President Yoon. The president himself refuses to do so, but they could last for days, weeks or even months, as has been the case in the past.
Economic crisis, budget cuts and corruption of power
Why is this crisis happening now? South Korea has long enjoyed rapid development, thanks to an interventionist state policy that encouraged the formation of conglomerates, which Japan and the United States both tolerated and integrated for geopolitical reasons in particular: the division of the Korean peninsula and the proximity of China and Russia. Today, it exports a massive amount of electronics and is the second largest producer of semi-conductors (in particular memory storage printed circuits). However, in the wake of the Covid crisis and in a less buoyant global market, growth is running out of steam. The economic situation of the population is deteriorating, as is the quality of public services. The presidential couple have been accused of numerous corruption scandals. The political crisis erupted when Parliament was due to cut the budget that President Yoon can use at will, in the name of national security.
In short, South Korea is facing a situation that, beyond its specificities, is not foreign to that of many Western countries. It has something to tell us, particularly in France where the army occupies a major place at the heart of our regime, and where the Macron government (among others) shows very little respect for the parliamentary institution or the results of the ballot box. We should not take an ‘exotic’ look at this Far Eastern country. Its turbulence is a warning.
Pierre Rousset