1 00:00:03,410 --> 00:00:05,739 Speaker 1: You're listening to AC N A podcast. 2 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: South Korea is in the middle of a full blown 3 00:00:11,850 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: political crisis. Wrap your heads around this. President Hyun S 4 00:00:16,500 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: Yoo declared martial law late on Tuesday night. 5 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,690 Speaker 1: I hereby declare an emergency martial law in order to 6 00:00:25,700 --> 00:00:28,340 Speaker 1: defend the free Republic of Korea from the threat of 7 00:00:28,350 --> 00:00:32,099 Speaker 1: North Korean communist forces and to eradicate the shameless pro 8 00:00:32,250 --> 00:00:35,490 Speaker 1: north anti state forces that are depriving our people of 9 00:00:35,500 --> 00:00:39,509 Speaker 1: their freedom and happiness. This measure is necessary to safeguard 10 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:43,790 Speaker 1: our constitutional order of freedom very quickly. The South Korean 11 00:00:43,799 --> 00:00:47,299 Speaker 1: main opposition leader Lee Jae Myung decries the move 12 00:00:49,799 --> 00:00:52,918 Speaker 2: to the soldiers of the Republic of Korea from now 13 00:00:52,930 --> 00:00:57,330 Speaker 2: on the president's order following the illegal declaration of martial 14 00:00:57,340 --> 00:01:04,379 Speaker 2: law is clearly illegal and unconstitutional following the unconstitutional, invalid 15 00:01:04,389 --> 00:01:08,930 Speaker 2: and illegal presidential order is itself an unlawful act. 16 00:01:09,180 --> 00:01:13,839 Speaker 1: Within hours of his first announcement, President Yon lives martial 17 00:01:13,849 --> 00:01:14,169 Speaker 1: law 18 00:01:16,739 --> 00:01:20,550 Speaker 1: after the National Assembly's demand to lift martial law, martial 19 00:01:20,559 --> 00:01:23,589 Speaker 1: law troops have been withdrawn. I will accept the National 20 00:01:23,599 --> 00:01:26,980 Speaker 1: Assembly's demand to lift martial law through a cabinet meeting. 21 00:01:27,629 --> 00:01:32,009 Speaker 1: Now the opposition wants him to quit and is considering impeachment. 22 00:01:32,300 --> 00:01:36,349 Speaker 1: The country is in its biggest political crisis and things 23 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,730 Speaker 1: are still unfolding as we speak. I'm Arnold Gay. And 24 00:01:39,739 --> 00:01:43,559 Speaker 1: this is a special episode of the CN A correspondent podcast. 25 00:01:43,569 --> 00:01:46,629 Speaker 1: CN A correspondent Lim Yun Su has been guiding us 26 00:01:46,639 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: through this for the past day or so and she 27 00:01:49,690 --> 00:01:52,349 Speaker 1: joins me now, live from Seoul. 28 00:01:56,239 --> 00:01:59,519 Speaker 1: So Yun Suk quite a bit has been happening. Can 29 00:01:59,529 --> 00:02:03,459 Speaker 1: you tell us what happened here? And, and why did 30 00:02:03,470 --> 00:02:07,220 Speaker 1: President Yun make this move? It, it almost seems like 31 00:02:07,230 --> 00:02:10,470 Speaker 1: political suicide. Well, yes, it is. And that's why lots 32 00:02:10,490 --> 00:02:12,779 Speaker 1: of experts here are saying that he really did make 33 00:02:12,788 --> 00:02:14,899 Speaker 1: a very big miscalculation. 34 00:02:15,220 --> 00:02:18,678 Speaker 1: It's difficult to know exactly why he made this move. 35 00:02:18,690 --> 00:02:21,559 Speaker 1: But he did and many experts are saying that he 36 00:02:21,570 --> 00:02:24,839 Speaker 1: needs to come out and give an explanation because that's 37 00:02:24,850 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: the question many South Koreans here are asking and I'm 38 00:02:27,449 --> 00:02:30,478 Speaker 1: curious too as to what it was that got him 39 00:02:30,589 --> 00:02:33,250 Speaker 1: motivated. It got him so scared that he had to 40 00:02:33,258 --> 00:02:37,250 Speaker 1: impose martial law on South Korea. People woke up to 41 00:02:37,258 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 1: the shocking news and really unprecedented for South Korea in 42 00:02:40,889 --> 00:02:44,830 Speaker 1: this year of 2024 to be under martial law if 43 00:02:44,839 --> 00:02:48,050 Speaker 1: it did go ahead. So Yun so literally in the 44 00:02:48,059 --> 00:02:50,970 Speaker 1: space of hours, you could have gone to sleep and 45 00:02:50,979 --> 00:02:52,538 Speaker 1: you would have woken up and you know, it would 46 00:02:52,550 --> 00:02:55,169 Speaker 1: have been over in a manner of speaking. So, so 47 00:02:55,179 --> 00:02:59,479 Speaker 1: take us through particularly from the time he declared martial 48 00:02:59,490 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: law 49 00:03:00,229 --> 00:03:03,529 Speaker 1: to the time he rescinded the decree, it all started 50 00:03:03,538 --> 00:03:06,750 Speaker 1: about 1030 here local time. And it was time when 51 00:03:06,758 --> 00:03:09,369 Speaker 1: a lot of people here might have been in bed, though, 52 00:03:09,380 --> 00:03:11,860 Speaker 1: many of them were watching the news and were listening 53 00:03:11,869 --> 00:03:14,389 Speaker 1: to what was happening. But he suddenly came on air 54 00:03:14,460 --> 00:03:18,168 Speaker 1: and in a live televised address to the nation, he 55 00:03:18,179 --> 00:03:21,350 Speaker 1: declared that South Korea was going to be under martial 56 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,490 Speaker 1: law because he felt that the main opposition Democratic Party 57 00:03:25,500 --> 00:03:27,729 Speaker 1: was paralyzing the South Korean government. 58 00:03:27,979 --> 00:03:30,559 Speaker 1: Now, the reasons that he gave was that he needed 59 00:03:30,570 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: to protect South Korea from the threats of North Korea 60 00:03:33,770 --> 00:03:37,289 Speaker 1: and the anti state forces here in South Korea. But 61 00:03:37,309 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: it wasn't really about North Korea because he didn't really 62 00:03:39,809 --> 00:03:42,820 Speaker 1: give details as to what the threats were from North Korea. 63 00:03:42,830 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: But he did cite some of the reasons including about 64 00:03:46,009 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: how the budget was going to be reduced by the 65 00:03:48,889 --> 00:03:53,100 Speaker 1: main opposition party, talked about how the main opposition party 66 00:03:53,110 --> 00:03:57,100 Speaker 1: was also taking other moves to bring the country 67 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: into chaos. Now, following that, we had the main opposition 68 00:04:00,970 --> 00:04:05,199 Speaker 1: leader ejm going live on social media saying that this 69 00:04:05,210 --> 00:04:09,300 Speaker 1: was unprecedented that South Korea could not be under martial law. 70 00:04:09,309 --> 00:04:12,830 Speaker 1: And he urged Koreans to gather outside the National Assembly 71 00:04:12,839 --> 00:04:15,889 Speaker 1: and that is exactly what many South Koreans did upon 72 00:04:15,899 --> 00:04:19,928 Speaker 1: listening and hearing this news of the martial law. Now, 73 00:04:19,940 --> 00:04:24,059 Speaker 1: even a few minutes and hours after he made that announcement, 74 00:04:24,070 --> 00:04:26,260 Speaker 1: the lawmakers from both the ruling and 75 00:04:26,730 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 1: opposition parties gathered outside the National Assembly. Many of them 76 00:04:30,730 --> 00:04:33,809 Speaker 1: tried to get inside the National Assembly but apparently they 77 00:04:33,820 --> 00:04:36,899 Speaker 1: were blocked by some of the riot police, the military 78 00:04:36,910 --> 00:04:40,359 Speaker 1: personnel who were already there in the compound. But to 79 00:04:40,369 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 1: the relief of many South Korean Syrians, many of the 80 00:04:42,609 --> 00:04:46,410 Speaker 1: lawmakers were able to make their way inside the National Assembly, 81 00:04:46,420 --> 00:04:50,630 Speaker 1: including the national speaker Shek and they were able to 82 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:54,959 Speaker 1: convene a meeting, hold a vote and 190 members of 83 00:04:54,970 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: the three 84 00:04:55,519 --> 00:04:58,609 Speaker 1: 100 member parliament took a vote and all of them 85 00:04:58,619 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: voted to overthrow this martial law declaration. And that really 86 00:05:03,329 --> 00:05:06,299 Speaker 1: left President Yun Song Ye with no choice but to 87 00:05:06,309 --> 00:05:10,350 Speaker 1: lift the martial law which he did about six hours later. Now, 88 00:05:10,359 --> 00:05:12,459 Speaker 1: right here in South Korea, it's pretty calm. But I 89 00:05:12,470 --> 00:05:15,339 Speaker 1: think South Koreans are still shocked by this and trying 90 00:05:15,350 --> 00:05:18,099 Speaker 1: to make sense of what this means for South Korea. 91 00:05:18,109 --> 00:05:21,380 Speaker 1: So what actually happens now? I mean, there are a 92 00:05:21,390 --> 00:05:24,618 Speaker 1: lot of questions, not just from South Koreans, but from 93 00:05:24,869 --> 00:05:28,429 Speaker 1: people in the region, people from around the world governments 94 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:32,808 Speaker 1: and ordinary citizens alike is South Korea going to make 95 00:05:32,820 --> 00:05:35,890 Speaker 1: it through? Ok. Well, I think we are and I'm 96 00:05:35,899 --> 00:05:38,820 Speaker 1: hoping that we will being a South Korean myself. This 97 00:05:38,829 --> 00:05:42,539 Speaker 1: is an unprecedented move and the last time South Korea 98 00:05:42,549 --> 00:05:46,750 Speaker 1: was under martial law was in late 1979 19 eighties 99 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: and a lot of the elderly South Koreans here. Remember that? 100 00:05:50,269 --> 00:05:52,928 Speaker 1: Right now, there are calls for President Yong Yol to 101 00:05:52,940 --> 00:05:54,488 Speaker 1: step down. The main 102 00:05:54,565 --> 00:05:58,035 Speaker 1: opposition Democratic Party has given him until the end of 103 00:05:58,045 --> 00:06:02,385 Speaker 1: today to step down or they will take measures including 104 00:06:02,394 --> 00:06:07,105 Speaker 1: taking impeachment motion to the National Assembly. Now, the main 105 00:06:07,113 --> 00:06:10,464 Speaker 1: opposition party says what he did was a rebellion act 106 00:06:10,475 --> 00:06:13,785 Speaker 1: and that that was a ground for him to be impeached. 107 00:06:13,803 --> 00:06:15,845 Speaker 1: But let me share with you what one of the 108 00:06:15,855 --> 00:06:18,454 Speaker 1: expert Sidney Siler said earlier, 109 00:06:19,029 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: I think the overall situation will be stable. You know, 110 00:06:23,329 --> 00:06:26,350 Speaker 1: we went through an impeachment and replacement of a president 111 00:06:26,359 --> 00:06:30,850 Speaker 1: under Park Geun Hye back in the 2017 time period, 112 00:06:31,109 --> 00:06:35,010 Speaker 1: the system survived the transition. There was a interim leader 113 00:06:35,019 --> 00:06:37,690 Speaker 1: while preparations for an election were held, 114 00:06:37,779 --> 00:06:41,380 Speaker 1: an election was held and Moon Jae in became president. 115 00:06:41,529 --> 00:06:44,829 Speaker 1: And so and during that period, the concern of the 116 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: US strength of the US Korea alliance deterrence of North Korea. 117 00:06:48,769 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: We had no problems with any of that and and 118 00:06:50,890 --> 00:06:56,410 Speaker 1: and things relatively stabilized. Uh even the stock markets relatively stabilized. 119 00:06:57,529 --> 00:07:00,109 Speaker 1: So, OK, a measure of confidence there from at least 120 00:07:00,119 --> 00:07:03,988 Speaker 1: one expert, I want to ask you about his own party. 121 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,529 Speaker 1: They were clearly taken by surprise. The people power party 122 00:07:07,540 --> 00:07:12,350 Speaker 1: leader Han Dung Kun basically saying that the declaration is wrong. 123 00:07:12,359 --> 00:07:15,029 Speaker 1: I mean, how was his own party blindsided by this? 124 00:07:15,279 --> 00:07:18,450 Speaker 1: I think everyone was, I don't think anyone apart from 125 00:07:18,459 --> 00:07:21,709 Speaker 1: maybe the defense minister and maybe one or two ministers. 126 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:23,690 Speaker 1: I don't think the all the cabinet 127 00:07:23,752 --> 00:07:26,752 Speaker 1: ministers were aware of what was going to happen. And 128 00:07:26,761 --> 00:07:29,772 Speaker 1: even his top aides inside the presidential office were not 129 00:07:29,782 --> 00:07:32,552 Speaker 1: aware of what he was going to do. Many were 130 00:07:32,562 --> 00:07:34,821 Speaker 1: saying that they left the office as usual and there 131 00:07:34,832 --> 00:07:38,171 Speaker 1: were no signs that he was going to declare martial law. 132 00:07:38,191 --> 00:07:40,571 Speaker 1: And that's why we have some of his top aides 133 00:07:40,582 --> 00:07:44,391 Speaker 1: including the national security adviser Xin Wang Shi tendering their 134 00:07:44,402 --> 00:07:48,082 Speaker 1: resignations early this morning. So the ruling party, Han Dong 135 00:07:48,201 --> 00:07:49,891 Speaker 1: Hoon who leads that party has 136 00:07:49,973 --> 00:07:53,463 Speaker 1: said this was unconstitutional. And he has urged and he 137 00:07:53,473 --> 00:07:56,144 Speaker 1: has said that President Yun Song Yen needs to explain 138 00:07:56,153 --> 00:08:00,074 Speaker 1: to the people why he took this tragic decision. And 139 00:08:00,084 --> 00:08:02,574 Speaker 1: though he has not asked President Yun Song Yen to 140 00:08:02,584 --> 00:08:05,713 Speaker 1: step down, he did say that the cabinet ministers should 141 00:08:05,723 --> 00:08:08,843 Speaker 1: be held responsible. And we're just really waiting to see 142 00:08:08,854 --> 00:08:11,834 Speaker 1: if the ruling party will give their support to the 143 00:08:11,843 --> 00:08:15,753 Speaker 1: main opposition party to have him impeached. But at the moment, 144 00:08:15,764 --> 00:08:16,114 Speaker 1: there's no 145 00:08:16,196 --> 00:08:18,936 Speaker 1: no word of impeachment. The ruling party is not calling 146 00:08:18,946 --> 00:08:21,175 Speaker 1: for him to be impeached or for him to step 147 00:08:21,186 --> 00:08:25,675 Speaker 1: down as of today. Yun Su. You mentioned confusion. You 148 00:08:25,686 --> 00:08:30,286 Speaker 1: mentioned shock. You mentioned disbelief among the reactions from South Koreans. 149 00:08:30,575 --> 00:08:34,416 Speaker 1: We know that his approval ratings before this happened was 150 00:08:34,426 --> 00:08:38,585 Speaker 1: already 20% at that level or below. Is public opinion 151 00:08:38,596 --> 00:08:42,296 Speaker 1: going to be important in terms of determining Yun's fate. 152 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:46,898 Speaker 1: I think. So you saw back in 2016, 2017 when 153 00:08:46,908 --> 00:08:50,767 Speaker 1: we had then President Park Geun Hye being impeached here 154 00:08:50,778 --> 00:08:54,388 Speaker 1: in South Korea. So impeaching a president, unfortunately, is not 155 00:08:54,398 --> 00:08:57,828 Speaker 1: something new to South Koreans. And in fact, the last 156 00:08:57,838 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 1: few weeks, there had been a lot of anti government 157 00:09:00,568 --> 00:09:05,179 Speaker 1: protests here in Central Seoul and in downtown Seoul every Saturday, 158 00:09:05,189 --> 00:09:05,767 Speaker 1: you would see 159 00:09:05,869 --> 00:09:09,919 Speaker 1: thousands and thousands of people gathering, calling for the impeachment 160 00:09:09,929 --> 00:09:12,700 Speaker 1: of president y so for him to be stepping down 161 00:09:12,710 --> 00:09:16,270 Speaker 1: because they feel that a special investigation, for example, has 162 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,409 Speaker 1: to be taken to investigate the wrongdoings of the first 163 00:09:19,419 --> 00:09:22,570 Speaker 1: lady Kim Gong. And that has been something that has 164 00:09:22,580 --> 00:09:26,130 Speaker 1: really hurt him since he took office. And if you 165 00:09:26,140 --> 00:09:28,969 Speaker 1: remember we had the general elections here in April 166 00:09:29,130 --> 00:09:33,260 Speaker 1: and the main opposition party won by landslide victory. And 167 00:09:33,270 --> 00:09:36,219 Speaker 1: since then, President Yun Song Yon has really been a 168 00:09:36,229 --> 00:09:40,010 Speaker 1: lame duck president here. And so I think public opinion 169 00:09:40,020 --> 00:09:42,789 Speaker 1: here in South Korea is very important and looking at 170 00:09:42,799 --> 00:09:45,609 Speaker 1: what he did last night, I don't think, you know, 171 00:09:45,619 --> 00:09:48,409 Speaker 1: there's any doubt that South Koreans will want him to 172 00:09:48,419 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 1: step down because he did create chaos here. He took 173 00:09:52,090 --> 00:09:52,159 Speaker 1: it 174 00:09:52,250 --> 00:09:55,539 Speaker 1: unprecedented move. And I don't think whether you support the 175 00:09:55,549 --> 00:09:58,289 Speaker 1: ruling party or the opposition party, I don't think you're 176 00:09:58,299 --> 00:10:01,429 Speaker 1: going to get any South Koreans out there giving President 177 00:10:01,450 --> 00:10:04,049 Speaker 1: Yun Song. Yo um any support for what he did. 178 00:10:04,239 --> 00:10:07,460 Speaker 1: It took the opposition party, the Democratic Party has been 179 00:10:07,469 --> 00:10:11,710 Speaker 1: clear about what it wants. Resign all get impeached. How 180 00:10:11,719 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 1: much clout does it actually have in parliament? I know 181 00:10:14,289 --> 00:10:15,349 Speaker 1: it controls parliament 182 00:10:15,750 --> 00:10:19,679 Speaker 1: but can it actually push through an impeachment if necessary? 183 00:10:19,690 --> 00:10:21,390 Speaker 1: I mean, I think you mentioned before that there have 184 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:25,189 Speaker 1: been what over 20 impeachments processes if you like carried 185 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:26,270 Speaker 1: out against June, 186 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:30,090 Speaker 1: none have been successful. What makes this one different? Well, 187 00:10:30,099 --> 00:10:32,599 Speaker 1: I think what he did last night by imposing that 188 00:10:32,609 --> 00:10:36,020 Speaker 1: martial law, which even the ruling party members have said 189 00:10:36,030 --> 00:10:40,299 Speaker 1: was unconstitutional and he didn't take the proper steps to 190 00:10:40,309 --> 00:10:43,909 Speaker 1: push ahead before imposing that martial law. And so what 191 00:10:43,919 --> 00:10:47,659 Speaker 1: he did was illegal. What he did was unconstitutional. And 192 00:10:47,669 --> 00:10:50,530 Speaker 1: we have heard the head of the ruling party, Han 193 00:10:50,539 --> 00:10:52,179 Speaker 1: Dong Hoon even saying that 194 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:57,579 Speaker 1: now yes for President Nan to be impeached, the main 195 00:10:57,590 --> 00:11:02,260 Speaker 1: opposition Democratic Party will need two thirds of the parliament's vote. 196 00:11:02,270 --> 00:11:05,909 Speaker 1: That means about 200 members of the 300 member parliament 197 00:11:05,919 --> 00:11:07,858 Speaker 1: will have to support that move. 198 00:11:08,174 --> 00:11:12,294 Speaker 1: But remember for that martial law to be lifted and 199 00:11:12,304 --> 00:11:15,645 Speaker 1: for the National Assembly to go ahead with that process 200 00:11:15,655 --> 00:11:20,015 Speaker 1: with that voting system to declare martial law invalid. They 201 00:11:20,025 --> 00:11:22,694 Speaker 1: needed the support and the votes from the ruling party 202 00:11:22,705 --> 00:11:23,164 Speaker 1: too 203 00:11:23,489 --> 00:11:26,630 Speaker 1: and they did get that vote. And so the 190 204 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,109 Speaker 1: lawmakers who were able to get their way into the 205 00:11:29,119 --> 00:11:33,140 Speaker 1: National Assembly cast their votes and that included the ruling 206 00:11:33,150 --> 00:11:36,609 Speaker 1: party members too. And so right now, it really is 207 00:11:36,619 --> 00:11:39,919 Speaker 1: uncertain as to how many members of the ruling party 208 00:11:39,929 --> 00:11:43,330 Speaker 1: will want to see him impeached too. We haven't heard 209 00:11:43,340 --> 00:11:46,650 Speaker 1: too much from the ruling party but officially the ruling 210 00:11:46,659 --> 00:11:49,109 Speaker 1: party says that there are no calls for him to 211 00:11:49,119 --> 00:11:49,989 Speaker 1: be impeached or for 212 00:11:50,070 --> 00:11:53,369 Speaker 1: to step down. But as we discussed earlier, the public 213 00:11:53,380 --> 00:11:57,728 Speaker 1: opinion is definitely against President Yun Soyo and it might 214 00:11:57,739 --> 00:12:00,239 Speaker 1: be where the ruling party members will really have no 215 00:12:00,250 --> 00:12:03,539 Speaker 1: choice because many here do feel that President Yun Song 216 00:12:03,729 --> 00:12:06,500 Speaker 1: Yon is not capable and he should not remain in 217 00:12:06,510 --> 00:12:09,569 Speaker 1: office after what he did by imposing that martial law. 218 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 1: You took allies of South Korea. Foreign governments around the 219 00:12:13,570 --> 00:12:16,569 Speaker 1: world have voiced concern about events in the country 220 00:12:16,919 --> 00:12:21,539 Speaker 1: and some have also issued safety advisories and similar announcements. 221 00:12:21,549 --> 00:12:22,500 Speaker 1: What are you seeing 222 00:12:23,070 --> 00:12:26,010 Speaker 1: and hearing on the ground? Are there any signs of 223 00:12:26,020 --> 00:12:32,419 Speaker 1: massive demonstrations forming brewing or other signs of protests becoming 224 00:12:32,429 --> 00:12:36,559 Speaker 1: tense as well? Well, we've seen protesters gathering outside the 225 00:12:36,570 --> 00:12:39,969 Speaker 1: National Assembly when this first broke out late last night, 226 00:12:39,979 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 1: early this morning, I was outside the National Assembly. There 227 00:12:42,690 --> 00:12:46,049 Speaker 1: were some protesters but not very big, but we do 228 00:12:46,059 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 1: have the main militant labor unions here. The Korean confederation 229 00:12:50,090 --> 00:12:50,979 Speaker 1: of trade unions 230 00:12:51,077 --> 00:12:55,437 Speaker 1: who have vowed to go on an indefinite strike until 231 00:12:55,447 --> 00:12:59,045 Speaker 1: President Yun Song steps down. Now they started gathering from 232 00:12:59,057 --> 00:13:02,356 Speaker 1: this morning. And they have ordered all workers, all South 233 00:13:02,367 --> 00:13:05,466 Speaker 1: Koreans to come out to the streets from this evening 234 00:13:05,497 --> 00:13:08,867 Speaker 1: to demand President Yun Song Yon step down. Now, if 235 00:13:08,877 --> 00:13:12,795 Speaker 1: you look at what happened in 2016, 2017, then we 236 00:13:12,807 --> 00:13:15,176 Speaker 1: had kind of like visuals here and there were tens 237 00:13:15,187 --> 00:13:18,937 Speaker 1: of thousands and hundreds of thousands of South Koreans out there. 238 00:13:19,083 --> 00:13:22,573 Speaker 1: Ordinary South Koreans with their Children out there calling for 239 00:13:22,583 --> 00:13:25,653 Speaker 1: the impeachment of then President Park Geun Hye. And so 240 00:13:25,883 --> 00:13:28,624 Speaker 1: it's hard to tell right now, but I do think 241 00:13:28,633 --> 00:13:31,273 Speaker 1: that there will be more rallies and it won't be 242 00:13:31,283 --> 00:13:33,864 Speaker 1: violent rallies because in the past, we've seen there have 243 00:13:33,874 --> 00:13:37,353 Speaker 1: been very peaceful demonstrations calling for the impeachment. And so 244 00:13:37,364 --> 00:13:40,583 Speaker 1: it's not where the country is in a chaos right now. 245 00:13:40,593 --> 00:13:43,443 Speaker 1: But definitely, I do think that there will be more 246 00:13:43,453 --> 00:13:46,383 Speaker 1: rallies here and President Yun Soyo really took a wrong 247 00:13:46,393 --> 00:13:46,943 Speaker 1: move 248 00:13:47,091 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: by imposing that and he really will have no choice 249 00:13:50,450 --> 00:13:53,111 Speaker 1: but to step down. And many experts are saying that 250 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,601 Speaker 1: perhaps the best thing that he can do now for 251 00:13:55,611 --> 00:13:59,231 Speaker 1: the country is to step down and let the country 252 00:13:59,241 --> 00:14:02,421 Speaker 1: run with the number two Prime Minister Han do so 253 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:06,221 Speaker 1: until they can call for new elections here. And Yun 254 00:14:06,361 --> 00:14:10,030 Speaker 1: Suk finally, South Korea is a very popular destination for 255 00:14:10,041 --> 00:14:13,060 Speaker 1: not just Singaporeans but for countries around the region around 256 00:14:13,070 --> 00:14:14,991 Speaker 1: the world as well. So there are some 257 00:14:15,390 --> 00:14:20,469 Speaker 1: concerns about whether or not holiday goers should continue with 258 00:14:20,479 --> 00:14:23,969 Speaker 1: their plans. What's the advice that's been being given to 259 00:14:23,979 --> 00:14:27,289 Speaker 1: not just residents but also to, to visitors? Well, I've 260 00:14:27,299 --> 00:14:29,780 Speaker 1: been told that a lot of the foreigners living here 261 00:14:29,789 --> 00:14:34,169 Speaker 1: have been given advisory notices by their embassies here in 262 00:14:34,179 --> 00:14:38,030 Speaker 1: South Korea advising their nationals to be careful to try 263 00:14:38,039 --> 00:14:40,770 Speaker 1: not to stay out too late because of the rallies. 264 00:14:40,849 --> 00:14:42,969 Speaker 1: But so far there has been no 265 00:14:43,052 --> 00:14:47,611 Speaker 1: official announcements made by the South Korean government about tourism 266 00:14:47,622 --> 00:14:50,452 Speaker 1: coming to a halt or we haven't heard about the 267 00:14:50,461 --> 00:14:53,611 Speaker 1: suspension of flights or anything like that here in South Korea. 268 00:14:53,771 --> 00:14:56,361 Speaker 1: And you are right, Arnold, I have had so many 269 00:14:56,372 --> 00:14:59,252 Speaker 1: calls and people messaging me asking me if it was 270 00:14:59,262 --> 00:15:01,791 Speaker 1: ok to come to South Korea now. And I tell them, well, yes, 271 00:15:01,802 --> 00:15:05,252 Speaker 1: it is because I mean to the outside world, this 272 00:15:05,262 --> 00:15:06,111 Speaker 1: may look 273 00:15:06,223 --> 00:15:09,364 Speaker 1: like there is something really terrible going on here in 274 00:15:09,374 --> 00:15:12,684 Speaker 1: South Korea. But a lot of South Koreans here have 275 00:15:12,693 --> 00:15:14,554 Speaker 1: been used to this. It's not the first time we're 276 00:15:14,564 --> 00:15:17,463 Speaker 1: impeaching a president and a lot of the elderly South 277 00:15:17,473 --> 00:15:21,244 Speaker 1: Koreans have been through tougher times, especially when the country 278 00:15:21,254 --> 00:15:24,924 Speaker 1: was under martial law and under the military led presidents 279 00:15:24,934 --> 00:15:28,044 Speaker 1: in the past and they've seen worse times and the 280 00:15:28,054 --> 00:15:29,263 Speaker 1: fact that the nationalist 281 00:15:29,395 --> 00:15:32,935 Speaker 1: took action really quickly and hopefully things will go back 282 00:15:32,945 --> 00:15:35,596 Speaker 1: to normal very soon. And so, you know, if I 283 00:15:35,606 --> 00:15:38,236 Speaker 1: can tell all my friends out there and all Singaporeans 284 00:15:38,245 --> 00:15:41,375 Speaker 1: and everyone else, I still think Korea is safe but 285 00:15:41,385 --> 00:15:45,026 Speaker 1: do watch out because things are moving very quickly. So 286 00:15:45,036 --> 00:15:46,986 Speaker 1: let's see what happens in the coming days. But I 287 00:15:46,995 --> 00:15:49,406 Speaker 1: hope that everybody will be able to come here, especially 288 00:15:49,416 --> 00:15:52,416 Speaker 1: when it's winter here and beautiful here in South Korea. 289 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:55,429 Speaker 1: Yz. We will let you go. Thank you very much 290 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:58,929 Speaker 1: for the update. Thank you and this is obviously still 291 00:15:58,940 --> 00:16:02,010 Speaker 1: a developing story and you can get all the updated 292 00:16:02,020 --> 00:16:06,309 Speaker 1: information on CN A dot Asia. This is Arnold Gay. 293 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,289 Speaker 1: Thank you very much for listening. I'll say goodbye for now.