Photo/Illutration A participant wearing a mask of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol attends a rally demanding his impeachment outside the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 8. The signs read "Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol." (AP Photo)

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol narrowly survived an impeachment attempt following his shocking move to impose martial law, which plunged the nation into a political crisis.

However, that does not mean that the leader of a democracy has been absolved of the responsibility for trying to suppress the people's freedom by declaring martial law and endangering democracy.

We are eager to see the nation’s legislature and judiciary uncover the full truth about what happened.

Yoon’s impeachment motion brought by the opposition parties was dismissed in the South Korean National Assembly. It failed because most ruling party members boycotted the vote and left the assembly, causing it to fail to reach a quorum and rendering it invalid.

However, the opposition parties have declared their intention to continue seeking his impeachment.

Yoon's abrupt and reckless move to declare martial law, citing "political stagnation," and send troops to the National Assembly stunned the world.

Yoon announced radical, iron-fisted measures such as prohibiting all political activities, including gatherings, and controlling the media.

Additionally, according to the ruling party leader, Yoon had instructed the arrest of major politicians as anti-state forces.

If true, all these actions amounted to nothing but a military dictator's behavior. The ruling party members who boycotted the impeachment vote should be accused of having engaged in a partisan political maneuver to avoid losing power.

The swift and powerful responses from the National Assembly and citizens, which forced the lifting of martial law in about six hours, underscored the resilience of democracy in South Korea.

However, there were tense moments at the National Assembly involving confrontations with the dispatched troops. It is fortunate that no serious incidents, such as bloodshed, occurred.

Prosecutors are reportedly investigating Yoon on suspicion of rebellion and abuse of authority.

Questions that need to be asked and answered thoroughly in parliamentary scrutiny and investigations by law enforcement agencies include why a powerful president trampled on the fundamentals of democracy and why his runaway actions could not have been prevented.

Before the vote on the impeachment, Yoon apologized to “the citizens for the concerns I have caused” with the martial law declaration and stated, “I will entrust my party with methods to stabilize the political situation, including the remainder of my term.”

However, he should clearly state how he intends to take responsibility.

Yoon has lost his ability to exercise political leadership to drive policies and his international credibility as a leader of a democratic country.

The day after the impeachment was dismissed, ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said in a joint statement, "President Yoon will not be involved in handling state affairs, including diplomacy, even before his resignation." 

However, the public is unlikely to accept this action of forcing Yoon to stop governing the nation as a convincing "remedial measure.”

The chaos in South Korea has repercussions beyond its borders.

The security environment in East Asia has become increasingly fraught and uncertainties in international affairs are increasing due to the upcoming return of the Trump administration. This shifting global landscape has increased the importance of cooperation between Japan and South Korea.

There is no denying that Yoon has played an active and constructive role in improving Seoul’s relations with Tokyo under his foreign policy agenda that puts a priority on enhancing the bilateral ties.

However, the precariousness of excessively relying on personal relationships between leaders has become evident.

Japan must also conduct proactive diplomacy to overcome the consequences of the political crisis in South Korea and sustainably develop relations between the two neighbors.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 10