South Korean leader's sudden martial law triggers international policy meltdown
South Korean Presidentʼs recent martial law declaration puts his foreign policy achievements at risk. His Washington-praised approach to Japan relations and regional security now faces an uncertain future due to domestic turmoil
Yoon Suk-yeolʼs sudden martial law announcement last week sent shock-waves through Seoul and Washington; his once-praised foreign policy now hangs by a thread
The South-Korean leader who took office bout two-and-a-half years ago initially won hearts in Washington with his pro-US stance and tough position on North Korea — but his domestic struggles tell a different story
His legislative attempts hit constant roadblocks with opposition holding most Assembly seats (a whopping 180 out of 300); medical reforms sparked doctorʼs protests and his harsh anti-opposition rhetoric didnt help matters
- Failed pension system changes
- Stalled education reforms
- Troubled labor policies
- Medical system disputes
The presidents approval ratings kept dropping to low-20s this fall; after declaring martial law they crashed to just 13% (with three-quarters of people supporting impeachment)
His most notable achievement — fixing relations with Japan — now seems short-lived. Despite Camp David meetings and US support‚ the public wasnt happy about his approach: especially the govtʼs decision to pay for wartime labor compensation instead of Japanese companies
Living in the 1970s
His use of dated political language — calling opposition “pro-North anti-state forces“ — only made things worse. Recent polls showed mixed feelings about Japan cooperation: 49% supported it while 44% didnt agree with military partnership plans
The martial law declaration might be the final nail in the coffin for Yoonʼs foreign policy dreams; his successor will likely reverse course on Japan relations and other international initiatives that Washington once praised so much
