Kim and Xi Propaganda Warning Amid South Korea Turmoil

President Yoon Suk Yeol dismissed his defense minister on Thursday as an expert warns the political turmoil in South Korea could fuel propaganda from North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and China’s Xi Jinping.

Opposition parties are pushing to impeach both the president and the minister over the shocking but short-lived imposition of martial law, which briefly saw armed troops deployed in the streets of Seoul.

The Democratic Party, along with smaller opposition parties, filed a joint motion on Wednesday to impeach Yoon over his declaration of martial law the night before. The martial law, which lasted only about six hours, was swiftly overturned after the National Assembly voted to revoke the president’s order, forcing the Cabinet to lift it before dawn on Wednesday.

Jo Seoung-lae, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, announced plans for a National Assembly vote on the impeachment motion Saturday evening, allowing ruling party lawmakers time to decide on what he called an “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.”

Will China and North Korea Benefit From Turmoil in South Korea?

Sydney Seiler, nonresident senior adviser with the Korea Chair of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank said “Korean politics have always been partisan, high-stakes, and zero-sum in nature. However, in the post-military government period from 1987 onward, democratic processes have strengthened political freedom.”

Turning to how regional autocrats would respond to recent turmoil in one of America’s most important strategic allies in East Asia, he said “Both Beijing and Pyongyang would likely see the recent events as reinforcing their perceptions democracy is both vulnerable and dangerous to autocratic leaders like Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping.”

He continued “Propaganda lines from both authoritarian states will likely continue to mock and criticize liberal democracy as part of their efforts to justify their own autocratic political systems internally.”

Who Will Take Over as South Korea’s New Defense Minister?

On Thursday, Yoon’s office confirmed the replacement of Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun with Choi Byung Hyuk, a retired general currently serving as South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho will serve as acting defense minister until Choi formally assumes the role following a parliamentary hearing. Yoon’s office declined to provide further comments, and Yoon has not made any public appearances since his televised announcement of martial law being lifted.

Opposition parties had previously submitted a motion to impeach Kim, accusing him of advising Yoon to impose martial law. In response, Kim offered his resignation and expressed regret for the disruption and concern caused to the public.

According to a statement from the Defense Ministry, Kim admitted full responsibility, saying, “All troops who performed duties related to martial law were acting on my instructions, and all responsibility lies with me.”

What Are the Chances of Yoon Being Impeached?

Impeaching Yoon would require a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, or 200 out of 300 members. Opposition parties currently hold 192 seats, putting them just eight votes shy of the threshold.

The swift rejection of martial law on Wednesday passed unanimously, with support from 18 lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party who are part of an anti-Yoon faction, highlighting growing divisions within the president’s own party.

If Yoon is impeached, he would be suspended from office while the constitutional Court deliberates on whether to permanently remove him. During this period, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would assume the responsibilities of the presidency, ensuring continuity of governance amid the political uncertainty.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press