South Korean President Yoon already dogged by scandals before botched martial law

SEOUL - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was already grappling with controversies, including calls for his impeachment, before this week’s

botched martial law declaration

crushed his approval ratings to a record low 13 per cent.

Mr Yoon’s quarterly approval rating fell to 24 per cent in 2024, the lowest for a president’s third year in office since Mr Roh Moo-hyun’s 23 per cent in 2005 to 2006, according to Gallup Korea.

Even Ms Park Geun-hye, impeached and removed from office in 2017, managed 40 per cent in her third year.

The embattled Mr Yoon faces an impeachment vote on Dec 7 for imposing martial law late on Dec 3 – only to rescind it six hours later when Parliament unanimously rejected the measure.

Here are some of his previous controversies.

First Lady

Mr Yoon’s wife Kim Keon Hee has been embroiled in a myriad of allegations, including accepting gifts such as

a Christian Dior handbag from a pastor

and manipulating stocks in Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer in South Korea.

In November, Mr Yoon said the allegations were false, accusing critics of “demonising my wife”, although he apologised for causing public concern.

The unpopular First Lady is cited as a major reason for Mr Yoon’s dismal ratings and a crushing defeat for his People Power Party in April.

In late November, Mr Yoon vetoed a Bill seeking a special council investigation into graft and stock manipulation allegations involving Ms Kim, the third time he has rejected the opposition-led bill.

Mr Yoon and Ms Kim have been accused of meddling in the ruling party’s candidate nomination process and of exerting influence on the party to pick a particular candidate to run for Parliament in 2022 at the request of a power broker.

Marine’s death

Mr Yoon

vetoed a Bill mandating a special counsel probe

into allegations that military officials and the presidential office interfered in an investigation into the death of a young marine in 2023 that prompted public outrage.

The marine was swept away while conducting a search and rescue operation for flood victims. He and his fellow marines did not have life jackets.

Doctors’ strike

A

months-long walkout by young doctors

over Mr Yoon’s measures to address a doctor shortage strained South Korea’s healthcare system and increased public criticism of the government’s handling of the dispute.

Hot mic

In 2022, Mr Yoon was caught cursing on a hot mic after a meeting with US President Joe Biden in New York.

Opposition lawmakers accused Mr Yoon of insulting the US Congress when media reported Mr Yoon had said Mr Biden would be embarrassed if it did not pass a Bill on funding a health initiative.

The presidential office

denied the allegations

, saying he was referring to the South Korean Parliament.

Office move

After being elected in 2022,

Mr Yoon moved the presidential office

from the Blue House to the Defence Ministry compound in central Seoul, a step estimated to cost US$40 million (S$54 million), inviting criticism from the previous administration that the move was rushed and threatened national security.

Opposition lawmakers alleged Mr Yoon had taken advice from a shaman about the move. He denied any influence, saying only that he knew the man as a Buddhist priest. REUTERS