It's looking more and more like a second coup. WTH?

Monday morning here in Seoul. Saw these folks during my walk to the bus.

Props to @koreanforeigner.bsky.social and Korea Pro for getting the terminology right. The Korean in the reporting is 입건 (立件), which often means to "book someone on criminal charges." In English, that generates images of being dragged to the police station and photographed, fingerprinted, etc.

On Dec 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law. 600+ political scientists of South Korea condemned this in a joint statement, urging impeachment. **We ask political scientists worldwide to please read & sign in support**: bit.ly/3Bfxc2j

This is being done in part because the PPP apparently deleted the headshots of party members from its website. Just total cowardice out of the PPP.

Last week we tried a junta, this week we are doing a party state. Which unaccountable form of government will be attempted next week? Stay tuned to find out!

Call for a general strike across all walks of life. Laborers and self-employed. Shut down all production centers and logistical and transportation routes. Public officials and educators. Many of the people in unions in these sectors are progressive in their politics and will heed the call.

573 Korean political science scholars have issued a public statement declaring that Yoon's impeachment is the only way to resolve the current situation. They have 4 demands: 1. Resubmit an impeachment motion in the National Assembly ...

About 2,500 protestors gathered in Kwangju today calling for Yoon's arrest and the PPP's dissolution. Protesters say that PPP members who failed to vote for Yoon's impeachment are accomplices in the rebellion against the constitutional order. www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR2024...

John Linton (known in Korean as In Yohan) was a translator for the democracy protesters fighting Chun Doo Hwan’s coup in 1980. Today as a member of the PPP he failed to vote at all on impeached of another would-be Korean tyrant. Sad to see how some people make such egregious compromises for power.

National Assembly Speaker Wu says the plan for Prine Minister Han and the PPP to manage state affairs on behalf of Yoon is clearly unconstitutional. www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR2024...

The Rebuilding Korea Party is going to submit impeachment motions for Prime Minister Han and Justice Minister Park Song-jae (박성재) as well. It's a busy Sunday in Korean politics...

The minor opposition Rebuilding Korea (祖國革新黨) is holding a meeting now to draft a new motion to impeach Yoon.

PPP leader Han Dong-hoon and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo delivered a statement a short while ago. They said the party and the prime minister would manage state affairs until Yoon "leaves in an orderly fashion." This is outside the constitutional order and unsustainable.

The "fund out" phase has already begun for former MinDef Kim. m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/articl...

Talked to some protesters at length-- they told me they came out expecting impeachment to fail but that it was important to come out anyways and put pressure on the legislature. "See you next weekend, you bastards," one said.

Can you imagine Koreans if a POTROK did even 10% of what Trump has done? Americans are comatose in comparison.

That's correct. The Republic of Korea has neither a Parliament nor a Funkadelic.

One PPP lawmaker apparently has returned, but still not enough to impeach.

The National Assembly has begun voting to impeach Yoon. However, 107 PPP lawmakers have left the chamber, so there are not enough votes to pass. According to rumors, protesters will march from Youido to the area of Yoon's residence in Hannam-dong. That should take 2~2.5 hours.

Check out the crowd near the National Assembly. No impeachment tonight...

The PPP has walked out, so Yoon will not be impeached tonight.

All PPP members except Ahn Ch'ōl-su (안철수) have left the chamber.

The National Assembly failed to override Yoon's veto of the first lady special prosecutor bill 198-102. Wow

The National Assembly is counting the votes on the bill to establish a special prosecutor for the first lady. Yoon veto the bill, and the NA will need 2/3 (200 votes) to override the veto.

샛강 station two stops from the National Assembly is packed with people filing off the subway. There is practically nothing nearby besides some apartment complexes. A vast majority of these people are going to the protest.

Have made it to the center about 500 m from the National Assembly. It’s very loud and very crowded

So many people. Having trouble posting. Trying to make my way as close as possible but not easy in this sea of protesters.

People on their way to rally for Yoon's in Youido a short time ago.

I just got a text message alert that says subway line 9 will not be stopping at Youido Station or National Assembly Station because of the crowds. Lots of protesters already there... 여의도 집회 관련하여 인파 밀집으로 인해 국회의사당역, 여의도역 무정차 통과 중입니다. 열차 이용에 참고 바랍니다. [서울시메트로9호선(주)]

Opposition Democratic Party says it will resubmit the impeachment motion immediately if it fails forcing another vote between Sunday and Wednesday next week [속보] 박찬대 "만일 탄핵안 부결되면 즉각 임시국회서 재추진" m.yna.co.kr/view/AKR2024...

In Seoul, it feels like New Year's Eve in Times Square, waiting for the ball to drop on Yoon's impeachment vote.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke publicly for the first time since the martial law debacle. His statement was short and defiant. He said he won’t evade repercussions, signaled he won’t leave the party or resign (things party members asked him to do so he won’t be impeached). Full text:

I better hit the gym for my mental health before the "good times" begin in Seoul late this afternoon! 💪

I just watched his address. I kind of feel "mind-raped" because he said he would not avoid the legal & political ramifications for his actions. He finishes with an air of confidence, saying he'll continue to work until the end of his term. The vote will be close; he could survive this vote.

"During the election, Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon-hee, vowed to 'jail all reporters' who criticized her husband if he were to win" -- kind of hits differently now, doesn't it.

It's almost 9:00 AM in Seoul. According to Yonhap, Yoon is to address the nation to explain his reasoning for declaring martial law. The address could be delivered this morning before the impeachment vote later today. www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR2024...

Hmmmm. ¿Does it sound like he will be loyal to the Orange Menace, even if it means obeying unlawful orders like former MinDef Kim apparently did under President Yoon? You sound aggressive and a little angry, bro. Are those the qualities we want in a SecDef?

Our friends at Planet Labs got a lovely image of the scorch marks on either side of the flame bucket after Iran's launch.

Han has flipped. I wouldn't rule out an expedited impeachment vote today, ahead of the scheduled vote for tomorrow.

The Democratic Party says there is a lot of info floating around regarding a second martial law declaration. The DP has called all members to standby, in case. Whether the rumors are credible, or if the DP is circulating this to build pressure... www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR2024...

🤣 😂 😹 🤣 😹

"The Seoul Detention Center is over there." 🤣

WHAT HAPPENED IN SOUTH KOREA? Timeline of the #MartialLaw #SouthKorea 🇰🇷

Excellent assessment of how Yoon’s use of martial law—for whatever ill-conceived reason—was substantively illegal by Cho Hee-kyung : m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/articl...

Here's an excellent timeline surrounding Yoon's martial law declaration. Thanks to the Korea Risk Group and NK News for putting this together. koreapro.org/2024/12/time...

Wow. Not only that, but 70% of Koreans say Yoon committed treason.

Sure, why not, stealing classified stuff won't even be a crime by 2028