Anthony Kuhn

So a self-coup basically means that Yoon was democratically elected president, but in order to hang on to and increase his power, he tried to roll back civil liberties.

Well, the Declaration of Martial Law said that Parliament was suspended, protests were banned, media was subject to censorship, and anyone who resisted could be arrested. But neither police nor military effectively enforced it, so... The attempt to impose martial law was basically defeated within a matter of hours.

Well, the Declaration of Martial Law said that Parliament was suspended, protests were banned, media was subject to censorship, and anyone who resisted could be arrested. But neither police nor military effectively enforced it, so... The attempt to impose martial law was basically defeated within a matter of hours.

Well, the Declaration of Martial Law said that Parliament was suspended, protests were banned, media was subject to censorship, and anyone who resisted could be arrested. But neither police nor military effectively enforced it, so... The attempt to impose martial law was basically defeated within a matter of hours.

And, you know, people here have just expressed such disbelief that such a thing could happen in South Korea in 2024 because martial law was declared several times before 1987 when South Korea was under military rule. Today, South Koreans are far more skeptical of any attempt to deprive them of their rights in the name of a communist threat. And they're not afraid to protest in the streets.

And, you know, people here have just expressed such disbelief that such a thing could happen in South Korea in 2024 because martial law was declared several times before 1987 when South Korea was under military rule. Today, South Koreans are far more skeptical of any attempt to deprive them of their rights in the name of a communist threat. And they're not afraid to protest in the streets.

And, you know, people here have just expressed such disbelief that such a thing could happen in South Korea in 2024 because martial law was declared several times before 1987 when South Korea was under military rule. Today, South Koreans are far more skeptical of any attempt to deprive them of their rights in the name of a communist threat. And they're not afraid to protest in the streets.

And demonstrations are planned or ongoing in Seoul and other cities.

And demonstrations are planned or ongoing in Seoul and other cities.

And demonstrations are planned or ongoing in Seoul and other cities.

Well, the U.S. embassy said on X that Yoon's announcement to end martial law is a crucial step, and that implies that imposing it in the first place was not a good idea. But they didn't say that. And given the importance of South Korea as an ally, such comments will probably stay behind closed doors. South Korea hosts 28,000 U.S. troops. They're building factories in the U.S.

Well, the U.S. embassy said on X that Yoon's announcement to end martial law is a crucial step, and that implies that imposing it in the first place was not a good idea. But they didn't say that. And given the importance of South Korea as an ally, such comments will probably stay behind closed doors. South Korea hosts 28,000 U.S. troops. They're building factories in the U.S.

Well, the U.S. embassy said on X that Yoon's announcement to end martial law is a crucial step, and that implies that imposing it in the first place was not a good idea. But they didn't say that. And given the importance of South Korea as an ally, such comments will probably stay behind closed doors. South Korea hosts 28,000 U.S. troops. They're building factories in the U.S.

to make high-tech goods. And they're supposed to be part of a U.S.-led coalition of like-minded democracies. So the logic here may be that publicly criticizing South Korea might give like-minded dictatorships something to celebrate. All right, that's NPR's Anthony Kuhn in Seoul. Anthony, thanks. You're welcome, A.

to make high-tech goods. And they're supposed to be part of a U.S.-led coalition of like-minded democracies. So the logic here may be that publicly criticizing South Korea might give like-minded dictatorships something to celebrate. All right, that's NPR's Anthony Kuhn in Seoul. Anthony, thanks. You're welcome, A.

to make high-tech goods. And they're supposed to be part of a U.S.-led coalition of like-minded democracies. So the logic here may be that publicly criticizing South Korea might give like-minded dictatorships something to celebrate. All right, that's NPR's Anthony Kuhn in Seoul. Anthony, thanks. You're welcome, A.

No candidate won a majority of votes in the House of Representatives, so it came down to the first runoff vote in 30 years. The opposition could not unite around a single candidate either, so lawmakers voted for incumbent Shigeru Ishiba to stay on. Without a majority in Parliament, he'll have to scrape together enough votes to get individual bills and policies through the legislature.

No candidate won a majority of votes in the House of Representatives, so it came down to the first runoff vote in 30 years. The opposition could not unite around a single candidate either, so lawmakers voted for incumbent Shigeru Ishiba to stay on. Without a majority in Parliament, he'll have to scrape together enough votes to get individual bills and policies through the legislature.

Another challenge Ichiba faces is warding off tariffs that a second Trump administration could levy on Japanese exports. Ichiba is trying to arrange a meeting with the president-elect before or after a G20 summit in Brazil this month. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

Another challenge Ichiba faces is warding off tariffs that a second Trump administration could levy on Japanese exports. Ichiba is trying to arrange a meeting with the president-elect before or after a G20 summit in Brazil this month. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.