Offended rice farmers. Placing docs. A $2,200 Dior bag.
South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, could have sealed his political destiny final week when he declared martial regulation, triggering public outrage. However he was hardly a beloved determine earlier than that.
Even earlier than Mr. Yoon’s temporary imposition of navy rule, a collection of scandals and unpopular selections had left him with a few of the lowest approval rankings in South Korea’s historical past.
Now he faces an impeachment push, an riot investigation and more protesters than he’s seen since taking energy in 2022. Rising inequality, rising costs and escalating threats from North Korea have additionally left voters indignant.
Right here’s how Mr. Yoon misplaced the belief of a lot of his citizens.
March
Mr. Yoon was voted into workplace by the thinnest margin since South Korea started holding free presidential elections in 1987. Inside days, he introduced a controversial plan to relocate the Protection Ministry so his workplace might transfer into its compound, at a price to taxpayers of about $41 million.
Might
Weeks into Mr. Yoon’s time period, two of his cupboard nominees withdrew after being accused of nepotism. Three extra would resign inside months.
September
A media outlet printed a recording of Mr. Yoon apparently utilizing an expletive to check with U.S. lawmakers after a gathering with President Biden. Mr. Yoon referred to as the report “pretend information,” and members of his celebration tried to enter the broadcaster’s workplaces. Mr. Yoon has repeatedly gone after
October
Halloween celebrations in Itaewon, a energetic Seoul neighborhood, become catastrophe when 159 younger folks have been killed in a crowd crush.
March
Pushing to fix ties with Tokyo, Mr. Yoon introduced that his authorities would now not search compensation from Japan for subjecting Koreans to compelled labor throughout World Struggle II, saying it could as a substitute pay
April
Citing considerations about overproduction, Mr. Yoon vetoed a invoice that may have required the federal government to purchase surplus rice to stabilize costs.
Might
Tens of 1000’s of nurses went on strike after Mr. Yoon vetoed laws meant to enhance their pay and dealing situations. Mr. Yoon pointed to reservations that docs and nursing assistants had expressed in regards to the invoice.
August
Mr. Yoon’s endorsement of close by Japan’s plan to discharge handled radioactive wastewater from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant set off a public backlash.
November
Video taken with a hidden camera confirmed Mr. Yoon’s spouse, Kim Keon Hee, accepting an costly Dior pouch. She had been accused of questionable monetary dealings earlier than Mr. Yoon took workplace. Lawmakers handed a invoice requiring an investigation into the claims, however Mr. Yoon vetoed it, denying that his spouse had executed something mistaken.
December
Mr. Yoon vetoed a union-backed invoice that may have restricted firms’ means to sue staff for losses throughout strikes. With wages stagnant,
February
Trainee docs walked off the job, demanding higher pay and dealing situations and protesting Mr. Yoon’s plan to dramatically improve medical faculty enrollment. Some senior
April
In parliamentary elections, voters gave the opposition 187 of the Nationwide Meeting’s 300 seats, one of many largest majorities in many years. The outcomes have been broadly seen as a verdict on Mr. Yoon, and his approval score hit a brand new low: 23 %.
Might
Mr. Yoon vetoed a invoice calling for a particular investigation into the loss of life of a
November
Demanding wage protections, the nation’s largest commerce union organizer introduced plans for tens of 1000’s of railway, subway and college staff to strike in the course of the first week of December.
Dec. 3
Mr. Yoon declared martial regulation — however he withdrew the order six hours later, after lawmakers rushed to the Nationwide Meeting and voted to rescind it.
Final weekend, simply earlier than lawmakers tried to question him, Mr. Yoon apologized to the people for declaring martial regulation. His celebration hinted that he would possibly step down.
However in a speech televised on Thursday, Mr. Yoon mentioned his decree had been essential to “save the nation” from “anti-state” opposition events, and he vowed to “fight to the end.”
An individual sporting a Yoon Suk Yeol masks danced in entrance of the Nationwide Meeting constructing after martial regulation was rescinded, because the police started to open the streets.
Chang W. Lee/The New York Occasions
