100 days after martial law was declared...Korean politics on a roller coaster ride amid chaotic situation

At 10:30 p.m. on December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Seok-youl's declaration of martial law plunged the country into political turmoil. The unprecedented scene of troops storming the National Assembly was broadcast live across the nation, causing controversy among the nation's people.
The South Korean government was in shock. President Yoon's approval rating plummeted, the opposition party proposed impeachment proceedings, and political commentators described Yoon's martial law move as "political suicide."
100 days have passed since then, and the political situation remains in turmoil. Following the impeachment of the president, Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, who was acting as the president, was also impeached by the National Assembly.
Even Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, Choi Sang-mok, who was acting as the prime minister, was under pressure from the opposition party to be impeached.
In the midst of the protracted impeachment situation, the ruling party and conservative supporters have come together.
They all voiced their opposition to the impeachment of President Yoon. President Yoon's approval rating is now higher than it was before the impeachment in the National Assembly. At the end of November last year, before the emergency martial law was declared, the opposition parties cut the reserve funds in the government budget proposal.
The opposition party submitted a budget proposal to the National Assembly that reduced special activity expenses and other expenses. Along with the special prosecutor bill proposed by Kim Gun-Hee, the recording of a phone call between Kim and political broker Myung Tae-gyun was revealed.
This put pressure on President Yoon. At the time, President Yoon's job approval rating was 19% and his negative rating was 72%. His approval rating further dropped after the declaration of martial law.
In a Gallup poll, President Yoon's approval rating was 16%. In a poll conducted by the Korea Reputation and Public Opinion Research Institute on January 3-4 this year, President Yoon's approval rating was 40%.
Although there is room for debate about its credibility, it was interpreted as conservative supporters rallying together in opposition to impeachment.
The conservative coalition was also confirmed in the polls. The approval rating of the People's Power Party even surpassed that of the Democratic Party. As public opinion changed, the pro-Yun faction within the People's Power Party gained strength.
Supporters opposed to President Yoon's impeachment gathered at the rally. One political commentator said, "President Yoon is probably the first president whose non-existent fandom was born as a result of impeachment."
President Yoon's release served as a catalyst to rally together public support for impeachment, which had been stagnant. There were fears that President Yoon's release could even affect the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling.
Fearing that the Democratic Party and other opposition parties would not be able to rally their supporters, pro-Yun lawmakers within the People's Power Party launched a counterattack by holding an all-night vigil. As the Constitutional Court's ruling took longer than expected, the confusion continues.
"Whatever decision the Constitutional Court makes, the confusion will intensify as people appeal against it," said Shin Yul, a professor of politics and diplomacy at Myongji University.
He expressed concern.