In December 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol surprised everyone by declaring emergency martial law. He claimed it was needed to deal with threats from "pro-North Korean anti-state forces. " But many people thought it was really about stopping the main opposition party, the center-left Democratic Party, from blocking his policies.

A self-coup, also known as an "autogolpe, " happens when a leader tries to illegally grab more power. Yoon wanted to shut down parliament, but his plan quickly fell apart. This type of power grab is becoming more common, with more happening in the last decade than ever before.

Why do these self-coups happen? One reason could be that rules against coups are weakening. Also, personal politics is getting stronger around the world. President Yoon's attempt failed because not enough people supported him. Many people protested in Seoul, and international leaders condemned his actions.

South Korea has had a long history of democracy, even though it was ruled by a military dictatorship from 1961 to 1987. This democratic capital helped to stop Yoon's self-coup. Political parties united against him, and his own party members turned against him.

Failed self-coups usually don't end well for the leader. They might get overthrown in a coup or be impeached, like what happened to Peru's Pedro Castillo. President Yoon is now facing impeachment. It's a reminder that even when leaders try to grab power illegally, democratic institutions can often still stand strong.

President Yoon's Bid for More Power: A Failed Self-Coup in South Korea

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