Why did the now-impeached President of South Korea declare martial law?

In Focus by The Hindu

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol has been impeached by the country’s National Assembly. His impeachment follows his sudden declaration of martial law on December 3, a move he was forced to withdraw in a few hours after the Parliament voted it down.

Mr Yoon’s Presidential powers remain suspended as the impeachment goes to the Constitutional Court for review and a final verdict. In the interim period, Prime Minister Han Duck Soo will serve as the acting President.

So, what prompted Mr Yoon to suddenly declare martial law? What will be the impact of the current developments on Korean politics? And what happens next, as the Constitutional court takes up this case?

Guest: Dr Jong Eun Lee, Assistant Professor of Political Science at North Greenville University in South Carolina.

Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu.

Edited by Jude Francis Weston