Kwon Seong-dong, newly elected as the floor leader of the People Power Party, was seen talking on the phone at the National Assembly on the 12th, according to Yonhap News. The British newspaper The Guardian, in an editorial, argued that lawmakers from the People Power Party should impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol.
On the 11th (local time), The Guardian published an editorial titled “Perspectives on South Korea’s Martial Law Situation.” It stated, “70% of the citizens wanted President Yoon to be impeached, but the ruling party, People Power, boycotted last week’s impeachment vote. This prioritization of party interests over national and public interests is a mistake and will not be easily forgiven.”
The editorial further argued that “if People Power Party lawmakers wish to sustain their political careers, they should support the impeachment in the second vote this weekend.” It described the remaining two years of President Yoon’s term as not just a lame-duck period but already a “dead duck” (a power vacuum), suggesting that what is needed is not a resignation roadmap but an “immediate election.”
The Guardian criticized the recent martial law situation, saying it tarnishes a country that has emerged from poverty and devastation to become a central hub of world trade, investment, and technology and a rare success story of democracy in Asia. However, it also acknowledged that, post-martial law, it was the civic participation that proved to be crucial in defending democracy in South Korea over the decades.
The editorial also highlighted that the martial law situation occurred amid South Korea’s economic and security crises. It mentioned that North Korea’s advanced nuclear program, Ukraine deployments, and Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House exacerbate South Korea’s security issues. Trump, as a candidate, wants South Korea to pay billions more to station US troops. Even more troublesome might be the economic blow from tariffs. All these issues add to domestic problems such as inequality, low growth, rising living costs, and an aging population, making reliable political leadership more crucial than ever.