Eugene Lee

The two-month-long drama surrounding President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law plan has turned into a saga impossible to ignore. Despite my best efforts to remain apolitical, this story must be examined from a governance perspective, even if it limits my options for other ideas.

The prologue of this unfolding series began with impeachment efforts derailed by the ruling party’s obstruction of the investigation. In a desperate bid to shield Yoon, the ruling party has seemingly abandoned its constituents, with 105 lawmakers now infamously etched into the public memory for boycotting the process. Worse, some of them have adopted openly radical stances, further alienating the public and inciting crowds against legal process — that we all saw in the storming of the Seoul Western District Court on Jan. 19. Meanwhile, the opposition party struggles with its own inadequacies, particularly its failure to shape its message and persuade the majority effectively. Many now question whether the opposition has the resolve to fill in the growing power vacuum.

Adding another layer to this drama is the curious role of spiritualism. Typically, in political science and international relations, topics like religion, fortunetelling and their influence are avoided due to their subjective and unverifiable nature. Yet, reports suggest that these shadowy figures now serve as conduits between government leaders and big money — a surreal intersection of mysticism and politics, as in the words of Yoon himself — a cartel.

What about him? Is Yoon still relevant? On a grand scale, while he and his supporters attempt to cast him as a misunderstood........

© The Korea Times