| South Korea has been on a political roller coaster since early December, when the president imposed martial law before backing down a few hours later. Bloomberg’s Denny Thomas brings us up to date on the turmoil and what might come next. Plus: Kendrick Lamar by the numbers and a post-inauguration episode of Elon, Inc. If this email was forwarded to you, click here to sign up.
In the predawn hours on Jan. 15, police in riot gear gathered in Hannam-dong, the posh Seoul neighborhood that’s home to K-pop stars, tech tycoons—and the official residence of South Korea’s president. In temperatures well below freezing, officers hiked through the forests surrounding the hillside compound occupied by the disgraced Yoon Suk Yeol, cutting into barbed wire, scaling ladders and clambering over buses intended to block access. Yoon, 64, who faces insurrection charges for a failed attempt to impose martial law last month, had repeatedly defied orders to appear for questioning. Last week, he initially followed the same playbook, hunkering down when investigators closed in. Local media soon began livestreaming the drama as the weak winter sun rose over the mansions and embassies.  Law enforcement officials leave Yoon’s presidential compound in Seoul after his arrest on Jan. 15. Photographer: Bloomberg The operation ended peacefully at about 10:30 a.m., when officers took Yoon into custody with little resistance, driving the president away in the back seat of a black van followed by a long convoy of official vehicles. Some of Yoon’s supporters collapsed into tears. The opposition broke into cheers. The country has been on edge since Dec. 3, when Yoon—frustrated by paralysis in the national assembly—declared martial law. The move sparked immediate and almost universal condemnation, and within hours he rescinded the edict. But the damage to his reputation was harder to undo. On Dec. 14 parliament impeached him, and Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo took over as a temporary successor. He, too, was impeached less than two weeks later. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is now running the country until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove Yoon permanently, triggering a new election. Tensions ratcheted up a notch on Dec. 31, when a Seoul court issued a warrant for Yoon’s arrest. Supporters and opponents soon began vigils, braving frigid temperatures and heavy snow to camp out on the streets around the president’s home. His backers waved US flags and “Stop the Steal” signs, drawing parallels to US President Donald Trump’s unfounded claims that he was the rightful winner of the 2020 election. Opponents, meanwhile, insisted that Yoon should be removed from office for attempting to impose martial law. For two weeks, the rival factions largely avoided physical conflict. Despite the gloom and uncertainty that had gripped the nation, many Koreans saw the relative restraint as evidence of the country’s maturation as a developed democracy. Then, on Sunday, things boiled over when the Seoul Western District Court extended Yoon’s custody by 20 days. Minutes later, in scenes reminiscent of the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the US Capitol, about 100 Yoon supporters smashed through barricades to storm the courthouse. Some 50 police officers were injured, and dozens of intruders were arrested.  The Seoul Western District Court was vandalized Sunday by Yoon’s supporters Photographer: Anadolu Yoon remains in custody as investigators seek evidence to back the insurrection charges. On Tuesday, he appeared before the Constitutional Court for questioning for the first time, with legions of police outside seeking to keep the crowds away. The court has until mid-June to render its verdict, though some analysts expect the court to decide sooner, likely removing Yoon from office forever. Many in the country remain hopeful that Korea can remain an exception in a world that’s become increasingly polarized and violent. Koreans have a visceral understanding of political strife. In the 1960s and ’70s, the parents and grandparents of those on the streets today endured military coups and labor protests that ended in bloodshed, and few have a desire to go back to those dark days. After decades of democratic rule, with multiple peaceful transfers of power, the citizenry has become accustomed to vigorous debate as well as the acceptance of defeat when it comes, says Lee Ji-hyun of the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, a civil liberties advocacy group. “It’s not a conservative or liberal issue, it’s not a ruling or opposition issue,” she says. “It’s just the voices and demands of ordinary citizens educated in democracy.” | 
