Temporary declaration of martial law leaves South Korea in turmoil - fears of future impact on Japan-South Korea relations

The confusion caused by South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol's temporary declaration of emergency martial law has spread to many areas, and some are concerned about the impact it will have on future Japan-South Korea relations. Asahi Shimbun
"The Japan-South Korea relationship, which had been gradually deepening thanks to the backing of the United States, has suddenly become cloudy overnight," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters on the 4th, "We are watching this with special and serious interest.
Ishihara said that he was planning to visit South Korea in early January next year, but some in the Japanese government have pointed out that the visit has become more difficult.
Prime Minister Shigeru plans to continue the "honeymoon relationship" that former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida built with Yoon. However, if Yoon is unable to maintain his administration, it could have a direct impact on the momentum of Japan-Korea cooperation that has been strengthened in areas such as security.
Yoon made an emergency statement in the presidential office late on the 3rd, saying, "The legislative dictatorship of the Democratic Party of Korea (the largest opposition party) is an obvious anti-national act that tramples on the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea and plots civil war.
"Through this emergency martial law, we will rebuild and protect the free Republic of Korea, which is on the brink of ruin.
Regarding the purpose of the proclamation, he said, "We will ensure the freedom and safety of our people and the sustainability of our nation from the movements of anti-national forces that seek to overthrow the system."
Yoon won the 2022 presidential election and was inaugurated as the 20th president in May of that year. However, in the general election in April this year, which was positioned as a "mid-term evaluation" of the Yoon administration,
The ruling party, the People's Power Party, which supports the government, suffered a major defeat. Yoon's approval rating also fell to around 20% due to his wife's scandals, and his centripetal force was significantly declining with more than two years left in his term.
It has been pointed out that the sudden declaration of martial law was an attempt by President Trump to suppress opposition forces in order to maintain his own power, which he is in a difficult position.
This is the first time that martial law has been issued since democratization in 1987. The "emergency martial law" that Yoon issued this time is a type of martial law stipulated in the South Korean Constitution, and is only issued in times of war or other emergencies.
A state of emergency is issued by the President when necessary for military purposes or to maintain public order. The military takes control of administrative and judicial functions and is authorized to restrict freedom of speech, publication, and association.
After the declaration, armed soldiers of the martial law army broke the windows and rushed into the National Diet Building. A HYERI helicopter, believed to be a military aircraft, also flew over the National Diet Building. The situation was reminiscent of the military regime, and after the declaration, the National Diet
Many citizens gathered before the meeting, shouting slogans against martial law and surrounding military vehicles, causing chaos. If a majority of members of the National Assembly call for the lifting of martial law, the president can lift it.
This time, all 190 lawmakers in the National Assembly voted in favor of lifting the state of emergency, and Yoon lifted it in just six hours.
In addition to conveying his intention to resign to Prime Minister Deok-soo, the President's Chief of Staff and Chief Secretary also announced their intention to resign. Six opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, submitted a motion to impeach Yoon to the National Assembly, claiming that the martial law was a violation of the Constitution.
A vote is expected to take place on the 6th or 7th. The bill will pass if more than 200 members of the Diet, which is two-thirds of the total, vote in favor. However, as the opposition parties alone cannot achieve this, the ruling party, the People's Power Party, will vote in favor.
The focus will be on whether lawmakers will step up. The impact is spreading both domestically and internationally, and the Japanese government is concerned about the impact on future Japan-Korea relations. Relations between the two countries once deteriorated to the point where they were called the "worst since the war," but
Relations between former Prime Minister Kishida and Yoon have improved, and in March of last year, the "shuttle diplomacy" in which the leaders of Japan and South Korea visit each other was resumed for the first time in about 12 years, and the two have held a number of summit meetings.
Exchanges between the business community and private sectors are also active. Prime Minister Ishiba, who took office in October, has been pursuing diplomacy with South Korea under the policy of continuing the friendly path that the two men established.
He has met with Yoon on several occasions. It has been reported that he is planning to visit South Korea in early January next year and hold a meeting with Yoon, but this has hit a snag following the recent incident in South Korea.
"The situation is tough. We don't even know if the Yoon administration will be in power a month from now," said a close aide to the prime minister, according to the media.
The visit to South Korea by the LDP's Vice President Yoshihide Suga has already been canceled. Suga was scheduled to visit South Korea on the 15th and 16th with senior members of the LDP's parliamentary group, and was making arrangements to meet with South Korean lawmakers and Yoon.
At a regular press conference on the 4th, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Keiichiro Tachibana was asked by a reporter about the impact on future Japan-Korea relations. He said, "Japan and Korea are important neighbors. We will closely monitor the situation and make appropriate decisions regarding the overall Japan-Korea relationship."
The Sankei Shimbun pointed out that "if the opposition party, which has criticized Yoon's Japan policy as a 'pro-Japanese humiliating diplomacy,' takes power, a 'winter period' will come again in Japan-South Korea relations."
Next year, South Korea will mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, but depending on future developments, there is a risk that Japan-South Korea relations will rapidly deteriorate.