Good morning.
South Korea finds itself embroiled in its gravest political crisis since democratisation in the 1980s. Turmoil erupted just over a month ago, when president Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law on the evening of 3 December – the first such declaration in 45 years – claiming to shield the nation from supposed “anti-state” North Korea sympathisers.
For six precarious hours, the country’s democratic foundations trembled. Members of parliament, many bearing decades-old memories of authoritarian rule, rushed to act, as the constitution permits the National Assembly to overturn martial law by majority vote.
Dramatic scenes unfolded. While thousands of protesters gathered in freezing conditions to demand Yoon’s resignation, politicians – including the opposition leader – scaled walls to circumvent military cordons blocking their entry. Eventually, all 190 MPs present, including 18 from Yoon’s own People Power party, voted to lift martial law.
Once the immediate democratic crisis passed, the opposition moved swiftly to impeach the deeply unpopular president. The ensuing weeks have brought further upheaval. Prime minister Han Duck-soo faced impeachment, while Yoon has evaded legal proceedings. The acting president, Choi Sang-mok, appointed merely a fortnight ago, faces not only this political maelstrom but also the aftermath of December’s Jeju Air flight 2216 disaster, which has claimed 179 lives and left the Korean public clamouring for answers.
For today’s newsletter, I spoke with Guardian’s Tokyo correspondent, Justin McCurry, about the crisis in South Korea. That’s right after the headlines.
Five big stories
NHS | More than 1,000 patients a day in England are suffering “potential harm” because of ambulance handover delays, the Guardian can reveal. In the last year, 414,137 patients are believed to have experienced some level of harm because they spent so long in the back of ambulances waiting to get into hospital. Of those, 44,409 – more than 850 a week – suffered “severe potential harm”, with delays causing permanent or long-term harm or death.
Reform UK | Elon Musk has called for Nigel Farage to be replaced as Reform UK leader hours after Farage described the billionaire businessman as “a hero”, in what is likely to be a preview of how a chaotic Donald Trump presidency could affect British politics. Farage, who is also the de facto owner of Reform, “doesn’t have what it takes”, Musk said on X.
Business | The chief executives of FTSE 100 companies will have made more money in 2025 by midday on Monday than their average worker does in a whole year, according to the latest measure of inequality between bosses and their employees.
Culture | The Brutalist, Emilia Pérez and Shōgun won big at the 82nd Golden Globes, the unofficial kick-off to this year’s awards season. Read the full list of winners here.
UK weather | Heavy overnight snow in Wales and northern England has caused travel disruption as the new year gets off to a cold start. The Met Office updated an amber weather warning for snow in northern England to run into Monday morning.
In depth: ‘As to what happens next, it’s really anyone’s guess’
Despite Yoon’s ill-fated move to declare martial law – not to mention his chronic, deep unpopularity – he has remained defiant. The president, who is under criminal investigation for insurrection and is facing arrest, imprisonment and potentially even the death penalty, has vowed to “fight to the end”. It is the first time in South Korea’s history that a sitting president has seen such accusations.
Barricaded in his presidential residence, Yoon evaded three summonses to appear for questioning. The series of remarkable events let to a dramatic six-hour standoff on Friday between Yoon’s security detail and 100 police officers and anti-corruption officials. Authorities said that a “human wall” of about 200 people made any arrest “practically impossible” without dangerous escalation.
The reason why it has been so hard to arrest him? Even though he is a suspended president, “he’s still in the presidential office and therefore is entitled to a presidential security detail who have been preventing authorities from arresting him,” Justin says – until the Constitutional Court rules that he has to be removed from office. The arrest warrant is due to expire today: “it’s possible for prosecutors to apply for an extension, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens,” he adds.
***
Why did Yoon impose martial law?
Yoon, 64, became president after winning the 2022 presidential election by a razor-thin 0.7% margin. “South Korean society has been polarised since Yoon was elected,” Justin says. “He was supported by older people and conservative Christian groups, whereas the Democrat candidate appealed more to younger people, particularly young women, who’ve been quite active in the recent street protests against him”.
His handling of the doctors’ strikes, media censorship, poor management of relations with North Korea and vicious partisan fights have sent his approval ratings plummeting. And for the last eight months of his presidency, Yoon has been seen as a lame duck after the opposition Democratic party (DP) won a landslide victory in general elections held in April. A series of political scandals and cabinet impeachments made the next two years look infeasibly difficult for Yoon, and in the face of this deadlock and reportedly on the advice of senior aides, Yoon made a last-ditch attempt to consolidate power.
***
The impact on South Korea
South Korea’s currency plunged to its lowest level since the 2009 financial crash and, according to figures released by the Bank of Korea, business and consumer confidence have suffered their steepest decline since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. But overall, the economic fallout has been “mild”, Justin says. “It hasn’t affected South Korea’s status as an exporter or manufacturer – the biggest impact has been political and diplomatic”.
In awkward timing, US secretary of state Antony Blinken is in South Korea today to highlight the importance of US cooperation between the two countries. “Now, he’s obviously not going to start meddling in South Korean domestic politics, but he will want some assurances from the South Korean government that the political turmoil is not going to affect South Korea’s role as an important US ally in northeast Asia,” Justin says, which is necessary considering North Korea’s nuclear capability and its growing closeness with Russia.
***
What now?
Despite Yoon’s widespread unpopularity, he retains a loyal following, some of whom believe his unfounded claims that last year’s general elections were rigged – his supporters even chanted “stop the steal” during demonstrations. “Even though an easy majority of South Koreans want Yoon to be impeached and agree that martial law was a very bad idea, there’s sort of a Trumpian element to all of this, in that he has a hard core of ultra conservatives supporters,” Justin says.
The country’s constitutional court has six months to determine whether Yoon’s offences warrant impeachment, with a verdict expected by February. Should six of the nine justices vote in favour, Yoon will be removed and fresh elections called; if not, he will return to office.
“It’s notable that even conservative newspapers that would normally be supportive of Yoon, have in the last couple of days been highly critical of him,” Justin says, “so I think the momentum for the moment is moving against Yoon but as to what happens next, it’s really anyone’s guess”. As the deliberations continue, South Korea will keep grappling with a leadership vacuum and governance crisis.
What else we’ve been reading
Viv Groskop’s interview with Strictly dancer Amy Dowden is awe-inspiring. The cumulative impact of breast cancer, chemotherapy, sepsis, Crohn’s disease and a broken foot on one body is unfathomable, but Dowden’s resilience and determination to be back in her “happy place” dancing, makes this a hopeful, rather than bleak read. Jason Okundaye, assistant editor, newsletters
The reality of snow is often less magical than the fantasy – but the stories from punters who spoke to Robyn Vinter about having to hunker down at the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire after being snowed in sounds pretty wonderful. Nimo
I love Emma Beddington’s rethinking of what “love languages” are in reality – like ignoring your partner’s grumblings until they’re done letting it all out. Much more relevant to everyday life than grand “acts of service”. Jason
Everyone (including me) has been dropping like flies with this latest winter bug: Nicola Davis breaks down what is behind this year’s spike in this helpful explainer. Nimo
As someone who no longer drinks alcohol and loves a strong black americano, I’m feeling pretty smug reading this advice from doctors, collated by Sarah Phillips, on how best to look after your liver, which suggests less booze and two cups of coffee a day. Jason
Sport
Football | Amad Diallo was Manchester United’s saviour once more, stealing a late point against Liverpool as the two sides drew 2-2 at Anfield. In Sunday’s other Premier League tie, Ipswich and Fulham shared the points, and a combined three penalties, 2-2.
Rugby | US Olympian, sevens star and viral sensation Ilona Maher made her debut for Bristol Bears on Sunday, which saw the club, as Sarah Rendell reports, “more than double their record attendance.”
Cricket | A thrilling 3-1 series victory over India has won Australia the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade. But for Pat Cummins’ team plenty of challenges lie ahead.
The front pages
The Guardian splashes with Elon Musk weighing in on UK politics, running the headline: “Musk says Reform UK needs new leader as he takes aim at Farage,” while the Telegraph says, “Musk turns on Farage.”
The Times looks at the state of public health leading with: “Starmer’s big plan to slash NHS waiting list” as the i looks at another policy priority with: “Labour to ditch 2035 ban on new gas boilers.” “End menace of e-scooters, ministers told,” writes the Mail, while the Express says “Ruthless small boat gangs set for ‘big springtime push’”.
“Snow Fakes” says the Star of people calling in sick due to the bad weather, while the Financial Times says “Wall St set for listings rush” and the Metro: “Transplant cured me of cancer.”
Today in Focus
Friendship across the parenting divide
In the summer of 2006, Helen Pidd met her fellow Guardian journalist Alexandra Topping. It was “a little bit like falling in love”, says Lexy, as the pair bonded over their jobs, through chaotic nights out and on holidays together. Their similarities drew them together, explains Helen: “The two blonde babies of the Guardian newsroom, both from the north-west of England, both a bit gobby.” They told each other everything.
Cartoon of the day | Edith Pritchett
Sign up for Inside Saturday to see more of Edith Pritchett’s cartoons, the best Saturday magazine content and an exclusive look behind the scenes
The Upside
A bit of good news to remind you that the world’s not all bad
A 2024 report on Africa’s online creator industry has valued the sector at £2.4bn and predicted that it will grow to $17.8bn by 2030, mirroring trends in the global creator economy.
The survey, by Communiqué and TM Global, says growth is being driven by a wave of creators aged 18 to 34, spurred on by surging internet connectivity and social media use across the continent, as well as the explosion of African culture on the world stage.
Nigerian content creator Tayo Aina, whose YouTube academy has trained nearly 2,000 mainly African creators, says: “I want to inspire the next generation of Africans not to have limits, and to grow their brands globally.”
Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday
Bored at work?
And finally, the Guardian’s puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
