Why did South Korea’s President Yoon declare martial law?

The aftershocks of last Tuesday’s declaration, and then cancellation, of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol continue to be felt by South Korea’s ruling elite. Every day brings a new development and fresh revelations in this shocking and somewhat bizarre episode, along with evidence of the deep fissures in what had seemed a stable and relatively harmonious society.

Yoon survived an impeachment vote on 7 December, but will likely face another on Saturday. He is under police investigation and two attempts have reportedly been made to raid his parliamentary office. There have been protests and strikes (by metalworkers at Kia plants) in a push for his exit. He has vowed to fight on.

Senior military figures, though, are in despair. Former defence minister and lieutenant general Kim Yong-hyun, who was arrested on Wednesday (the martial law declaration was said to have been his idea), attempted suicide at a detention centre.