The Minute to Read (Weekdays) series provides a quick overview of significant events in Korea everyday, conveniently condensed into a one-minute read. Here’s a recap of what happened yesterday: Dec. 12.
President Yoon defends martial law decision, criticizes opposition’s impeachment push
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Dec. 12 defended his abrupt and short-lived martial law declaration, saying he did it to “prevent the collapse” of democracy in an unexpected national address. He blamed the main opposition Democratic Party for repeatedly abusing power and undermining governance through repeated impeachment attempts. He denied that his martial law order was an act of insurrection, claiming that he allowed lawmakers to enter the National Assembly. He clarified that deploying troops to the National Assembly was a symbolic move to maintain order during large citizen gatherings, not an attempt to paralyze legislative functions.
“What kind of insurrection ends in two hours? The opposition is now creating a false incitement to push for impeachment,” he said, and vowed to “fight to the end.” He indicated that he would remain in office and face any investigations or consequences head-on, asserting that the martial law declaration is a constitutional presidential power not subject to judicial review.
South Korea’s military leadership crisis raises security concerns
South Korea’s military is grappling with a severe leadership crisis following President Yoon Suk-yeol’s short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3. Sixteen senior military officials, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, have been dismissed or are under investigation, leaving key units tasked with countering North Korea incapacitated. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and police leadership are also in disarray, with former Minister Lee Sang-min resigning and top police officials under arrest. This has sparked national security and public safety concerns amid a leadership vacuum.
Uncertainty over military command further complicates the situation, as President Yoon retains constitutional authority despite being politically sidelined after an impeachment motion against him was dismissed on Dec. 7. Experts warn that South Korea’s military readiness is at its weakest since the Korean War, raising doubts about its ability to respond to threats, including provocations from North Korea.
Korea’s job growth dips to four-year low
South Korea’s employment growth hit a four-year low in November, with the number of employed people rising by just 123,000 year-on-year to 28.82 million, the slowest November job growth since 2020. A prolonged downturn in construction, retail, and manufacturing, coupled with major corporate restructuring initiatives, has dealt a blow to the labor market, particularly for workers in their 50s and 20s. Experts say weak job growth is primarily driven by sluggish domestic demand and slowing export growth in key industries like automobiles.
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