Since he won his election by a razor-thin margin in 2022, Mr. Yoon has constantly clashed with the majority opposition over policies, scandals involving his wife and his hostile relationship with dissidents, including journalists he accused of spreading “fake news.”
His anger exploded on Dec. 3, when he declared martial law, calling his liberal enemies “anti-state forces” and the opposition-dominated National Assembly “a monster.” The law placed a ban on all political activities and put news media under military control, though the National Assembly killed his martial law decree before Mr. Yoon could enforce such moves.
During the six hours of martial law, he ordered military commanders to break the Assembly’s doors down “with axes” or “by shooting, if necessary” and “drag out” lawmakers, according to prosecutors who have indicted the military generals on charges of helping Mr. Yoon commit insurrection.
Even after the Assembly voted down his decree and then impeached him, Mr. Yoon vowed to “fight to the end.” He holed up in his hilly residence in central Seoul — behind bodyguards, rolls of razor wire and barricades of buses. Mr. Yoon repeatedly ignored summons from investigators to face questioning for insurrection charges.
