From what I understand, the military high command supported Yoon even after the assembly voted down martial law. If that’s true, didn’t he have everything to go through with the coup?

  • PhrygianFudge@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    arrow-down
    5
    ·
    edit-2
    19 days ago

    Couldn’t that have been just because of the immediate confusion and indecision about escalating by the lower unit commanders?

    There could have been infighting in the military, but he surely would have had quite some support, no? Why not take the chance if he already commited to imposing martial law?

    Edit: sorry if it came across like I support the guy. I don’t. I’m just interested in sociology and politics. If you downvote me, could you explain what I’m getting wrong?

    • ultranaut@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      18 days ago

      Infighting in the military is a significant escalation on the path towards a civil war. The chance for the coup to have any appearance of legitimacy was lost very quickly so it was either take that risk or back down. Ideally for a coup to succeed you have these details sorted and a plan in place to seize control before you start the coup, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here so backing down was the only realistic choice.