Leading British media outlets that have focused on South Korea's emergency martial law situation have published editorials directly criticizing President Yoon Suk-yeol.
On the 5th (local time), the British daily The Telegraph published an editorial titled "South Korea's Failed Coup," stating, "The declaration of martial law appears to have been triggered by a series of personal scandals and the failure to secure a budget in the National Assembly," adding, "This amounts to an attempted coup and is the act of a demagogue, not a democratic leader."
The newspaper continued, "This recalls the bad old days when leaders like Park Chung-hee took authoritarian measures to consolidate power," and noted, "President Yoon now faces an impeachment vote, which requires two-thirds of the total members of the National Assembly to remove him. They (the members) will, of course, do so."
Another major foreign media outlet, in an editorial titled "A Stress Test for South Korean Democracy" on the 5th, commented, "President Yoon's reckless decision has plunged the country into its worst constitutional crisis in decades," and added, "President Yoon must be held accountable for endangering South Korea's international standing and the democratic progress achieved through painstaking efforts."
The economic repercussions caused by the martial law situation were also addressed. Foreign media predicted, "Although the Korean won and South Korean stocks have recovered initial losses, this incident will exacerbate existing investor concerns about South Korea's economic outlook and stability." They further stated, "Lawmakers have rightly introduced an impeachment motion, and President Yoon is in an untenable position to defend it," evaluating that "the remaining hurdle will serve as a wake-up call necessary for South Korea to build a much stronger structure on the firm foundation of democracy."
The influential current affairs weekly The Economist also published an online article titled "Yoon Suk-yeol Should Resign or Be Impeached." The Economist described, "It is shocking and shameful that a liberal democratic country has experienced such a brazen coup attempt," diagnosing that "what happens in the coming weeks is a critical issue for South Korea and East Asian politics, where the United States and China compete for influence." It added, "President Yoon has personally proven that he is unfit not only for the presidency but for any position in one of the world's most important countries," and argued, "If he does not resign, the impeachment process that has already begun must continue."
The Guardian also joined in with a sharp editorial. In an editorial titled "Democracy Should Not Work This Way," The Guardian commented, "President Yoon, who played a key role in the political downfall of Park Geun-hye, now appears to have orchestrated his own downfall," and noted, "Welcomed by Western leaders as he joined U.S.-led efforts to counter the spread of authoritarianism in China, Russia, and elsewhere, President Yoon has caused anxiety among South Koreans by labeling his critics as 'totalitarian communists and anti-state forces.'"
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