South Korea's Failed Coup is a Cautionary Tale For the U.S.
President Yoon's coup attempt has striking parallels to Trump's stated intentions
The Korean Version
In a move that shocked the world, embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in a TV address late Tuesday night, in essence attempting to overthrow the democratic South Korean government. Military troops and riot police converged on the National Assembly building where the nation’s legislature meets.
Yoon justified his action by claiming that martial law is needed “in order to defend the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces.” He blamed the aptly-named Democratic Party opposition for “wreaking havoc and [they] are the main culprits of our nation’s downfall.”
Sound familiar?
Outside the National Assembly, crowds of peaceful, but angry citizens had already started to gather 30 minutes later at 11 P.M. when martial law took effect, where they faced off against riot police. Protestors waved signs and chanted slogans such as, “Martial law is invalid” and “Yoon Suk Yeol step down!”
In South Korea, the President has the authority to declare martial law, so what Yoon did was not illegal. It was however, profoundly clumsy and stupid because martial law can be rescinded by a vote of parliament which is controlled by the opposition. The clumsy part is because Yoon was unable to prevent the Democrats from getting into the National Assembly and establishing a quorum of over 150 lawmakers. Democratic Party lawmakers headed to Parliament as soon as Yoon announced the move. Many of them even bravely climbed over the walls to get inside before they could be stopped by troops or police.
Yoon kept trying to impose his will, however. At 11:30 P.M., the military announced controls on the media and the suspension of political activities which would include the meeting of the National Assembly that was about to take place. Soldiers inside the building attempted to prevent more lawmakers from reaching the plenary hall, but courageous Democrats resisted with one even grabbing a fire extinguisher and spraying it toward the soldiers.
Democratic Party spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong, a former TV news anchor, grabbed the rifle of a soldier in full battle gear, pulling at it as she screamed, “Let it go” and “Aren’t you ashamed?” He pointed the rifle at her and she repeated her words, “Aren’t you ashamed?” Fortunately, the soldier backed off and left without escalating the situation into violence.
Finally, around 1 A.M. the National Assembly voted 190-0 to end martial law. Respecting the rule of law, soldiers and police began to leave shortly thereafter. It took Yoon over three more hours to acknowledge that his coup attempt had failed. At 4:20 A.M., he returned to national TV to say that he had “ordered” the withdrawal of the military forces which he himself had deployed. Yoon didn’t go quietly, however. He repeated the baseless accusations and lies that he had previously lodged against the Democrats.
Once again: does this sound familiar?
Authoritarians often misjudge the populace they intend to subjugate. They underestimate ordinary citizens and opposition leaders. They think people won’t face them down and risk arrest, injury, or even death in service to their country. They become convinced that their authority exceeds the reality of the situation. Sometimes it works, but just as often it does not.
The American Version
What does the South Korean coup have to do with the United States? The similarities to Donald Trump’s and his MAGA conspirators’ plans are striking. Instead of Yoon’s North Korea bogeyman, Trump uses “illegal immigrants,” women, and transgender people who he claims are “destroying this country.” Like all dictators, Trump uses vulnerable groups to justify his narcissistic actions that are designed to give him more power than a U.S. President is constitutionally entitled to have.
On January 6, 2020, Trump incited an insurrection agains the United States. There is no doubt about his intentions. He did not accept the outcome of an election that he lost by over seven million votes. To this day, he still insists that the 2020 election was “stolen” from him. Expect him to cling to power during and after his upcoming term in office. Do not expect him to retire quietly and peacefully in 2029.
More dangerous than that far-off transition however, is what might happen during the next four years. Will Trump and his sycophantic cronies attempt to co-opt the military? In South Korea, the military followed the law. The vast majority of U.S. military leaders would do the same. The danger are the few embedded MAGA chuds1 like now-retired Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn. Are there more “Flynns” in top leadership posts who are more enamored of power and more loyal to Trump than they are to the Constitution?
Trump has said that he thinks U.S. generals should be subject to a “warrior board” of retired senior military personnel that he would appoint. The board would have the power to review three- and four-star generals and admirals and to recommend removal of any who the board deems “unfit” for their jobs.
In other words, Trump envisions replacing constitutional flag officers with loyalists personally beholden to him alone. The newly appointed officers would always know they would be forced out if they go against Trump’s unconstitutional commands. The politicization of the military in this way is a huge threat to American democracy.
Trump exists in an echo chamber, surrounded by sycophants who will say anything and do anything to stay close to the nexus of power. Like Yoon, Trump will not be getting a realistic assessment of the legalities or potential success or failure of his fascist ideas. It’s a near certainty that he will try something insane over the next four years. There are no guardrails this time.
Fortunately, half the country sees him for who he is. Millions of people detest him and everything he stands for. Patriots will rise up, just as they did in South Korea. Will American soldiers really shoot at peaceful American protestors? Will every single Republican lawmaker go along with Trump’s deranged plans?
Trump will miscalculate. He will misjudge the populace he intends to subjugate. He will underestimate ordinary citizens and Democratic leaders. He thinks people won’t face him down and risk arrest, injury, or even death in service to our great nation. He is convinced that his authority exceeds the constitutional reality.
He has already stumbled badly with his Cabinet appointments (cf. Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth, to name just two) and he hasn’t even been sworn in yet. Perhaps his incompetence will keep the country from bloodshed. Sadly, it’s just as likely to lead us in the opposite direction.
Our Republic faces its most serious existential threat since the Civil War began in 1861. Be ready, be strong, do not obey in advance, and most importantly, do not give up hope!
The people will prevail. America will prevail.
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Chud (noun): Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dweller; “chud” is a term used to refer to people who are considered far from socially normal and unpleasant to be around.
What are your thoughts on this after the last weeks and with Hegseth in the DOD?