NPR

Yoon has been a lame duck president since the latest general election when the opposition won a landslide in parliament.

He was not able to pass the laws he wanted, instead, he was reduced to vetoing desperately any bills that the opposition had been passing.

Yoon is also mired in several scandals, mainly one around his wife, who is accused of corruption. She is also accused of influence peddling. The opposition has been trying to launch a special investigation against her.

This week, the opposition slashed budgets that the government and ruling party had put forward - and the budget bill cannot be vetoed.

In the same week, the opposition is moving to impeach cabinet members, mainly the head of the government audit agency, for failing to investigate the first lady.

Yoon has gone for the nuclear option - he claims it is to restore order when "anti-state" forces he says are trying to paralyse the country.

fishfoodie wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2024 3:30 pm Sounds a bit Coup'ish.

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2024 3:43 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2024 3:30 pm Sounds a bit Coup'ish.

Not quite that exciting. Sounds more like the sitting President, outnumbered by the opposition and unable to pass legislation while dogged by stories of his corrupt wife, has fearlessly decided to defend his nation from the evil forces of the North who have infiltrated the south and threaten security and stability. The leader of his own party says it's the wrong move and his heading down there now to smack his arse.

Biffer wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2024 4:34 pm

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2024 3:43 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2024 3:30 pm Sounds a bit Coup'ish.

Not quite that exciting. Sounds more like the sitting President, outnumbered by the opposition and unable to pass legislation while dogged by stories of his corrupt wife, has fearlessly decided to defend his nation from the evil forces of the North who have infiltrated the south and threaten security and stability. The leader of his own party says it's the wrong move and his heading down there now to smack his arse.

Yeah, looks like both sides of parliament and the public are saying 'nope' with the military cunningly sitting in the corner going 'sorry, what? Didn't hear you, what was that? Oh, did you say something?'

Biffer wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2024 5:58 pm Also, it seems that now parliament has passed a motion insisting that martial law should be lifted, the president must, by law, lift martial law. So if he doesn’t, he’s acting unlawfully and can be arrested / removed?

sturginho wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2024 9:23 pm Well that was fun while it lasted. Shirley his position is untenable now?

Biffer wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2024 10:00 pm Speculation in the media about how this demonstrates instability and North Korea will take advantage.

I choose to take another point of view - that this episode proves that South Korea is a resilient democracy that can resist a rogue president abusing his position and acting outside his authority to bypass democratically elected representatives.

Uncle fester wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2024 8:22 am He's refusing to step down.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gp8p875g8o

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sun Dec 29, 2024 4:08 pm Big airplane crash.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-paci ... 024-12-29/

Kawazaki wrote: Sun Dec 29, 2024 4:20 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sun Dec 29, 2024 4:08 pm Big airplane crash.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-paci ... 024-12-29/

No news on whether the bird survived then?