Ep. 2097 - WTF Just Happened In SOUTH KOREA?

Summary of The Ben Shapiro Show – Ep. 2097: "WTF Just Happened In SOUTH KOREA?"

Release Date: December 4, 2024 | Host: Ben Shapiro | Source: The Daily Wire

1. South Korea's Abrupt Martial Law Declaration

Timestamp: [00:00]

Ben Shapiro opens the episode by addressing a startling development in South Korea: an attempted military dictatorship. President Yoon Suk Yeo, from the right-wing People Power Party, declared martial law citing the need to "safeguard liberal democracy and protect the safety of the people against anti-state forces threatening to overthrow the Republic of Korea." The proclamation outlined six stringent measures, including the prohibition of all political activities, control over media and publications, and the mandatory return of striking medical professionals within 48 hours.

2. Political Turmoil and Allegations Against the Democratic Party

Timestamp: [00:00 – 12:00]

President Yoon contends that the ruling Democratic Party—a left-wing majority in the National Assembly—acts as "tools of the North Koreans" and "crypto communists," obstructing government functionality. He accuses the Democratic Party of initiating numerous impeachment motions, destabilizing the judiciary by targeting judges and prosecutors, and mismanaging the national budget to the detriment of public security and welfare. Quoting the President, Shapiro notes:

"The national assembly has become a den of criminals. The national assembly has become a monster that collapses the liberal democratic system." [03:45]

3. The Impeachment Battles and Legislative Chaos

Timestamp: [12:00 – 21:30]

The Democratic Party has aggressively pursued impeachment motions against high-ranking officials, including the State Audit Agency head and prosecutors involved in scandals related to the First Lady, Kim Kyung Hee. This move is seen as an attempt to shield President Yoon’s family from prosecution while simultaneously targeting the opposition's leadership. Shapiro highlights the chaos as military forces attempted to intervene in parliamentary sessions, leading to a unanimous vote in the National Assembly to defy and lift the martial law declaration despite attempts by assembly members, including those from the ruling party, to obstruct the process.

4. International Reactions and Comparisons

Timestamp: [21:30 – 26:36]

The global community, particularly the United States under the Biden administration, has responded cautiously. The White House stated:

"The administration is in contact with the Republic of Korea government and is monitoring the situation closely as we work to learn more." [21:45]

Shapiro criticizes media outlets like the New York Times for unsubstantiated comparisons between President Yoon's actions and former President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 US election results, emphasizing that Yoon's declaration of martial law involves military intervention—a step Trump never took.

5. The Global Trend of Constitutional Crises in Democracies

Timestamp: [26:36 – 44:13]

Shapiro broadens the discussion, illustrating that South Korea's crisis is part of a wider pattern affecting democracies worldwide. He cites examples from Israel, Hungary, and Brazil, where the interplay between political parties and independent prosecutorial bodies has led to persistent constitutional tensions. The core issue, Shapiro argues, is the delegation of political accountability to supposedly impartial institutions, which invariably become politicized, leading to attempts either to weaponize these bodies or to dismantle them when they become inconvenient for those in power.

6. The Erosion of Trust in US Institutions

Timestamp: [44:13 – 48:55]

Focusing on the United States, Shapiro discusses the declining trust in institutions like the FBI and DOJ. Citing statistics, he notes a sharp drop in Republican confidence in the FBI's performance:

"In 2014, 62% of Republicans thought the FBI was doing an excellent or good job. By 2022, this number had plummeted to 26%." [27:06]

He attributes this distrust to the perceived weaponization of these institutions against former President Trump, leading to a broader constitutional crisis where neither elected bodies nor law enforcement agencies are trusted to curb corruption effectively.

7. The Administrative State and Its Pitfalls

Timestamp: [48:55 – End]

Shapiro delves into the structural issues of the administrative state, arguing that outsourcing corruption checks to independent agencies has backfired. Instead of providing balanced oversight, these bodies have become tools for political vendettas, undermining the foundational checks and balances envisioned in democratic republics. He emphasizes that without restoring power to elected bodies to handle such issues directly, constitutional crises will only worsen, as seen in the current South Korean scenario and mirrored in other democracies.

Notable Quotes:

President Yoon Suk Yeo on Martial Law:

"To safeguard liberal democracy and protect the safety of the people against anti-state forces threatening to overthrow the Republic of Korea." [00:00]
Shapiro on South Korea's National Assembly:

"The national assembly has become a den of criminals. The national assembly has become a monster that collapses the liberal democratic system." [03:45]
White House Statement on South Korea Crisis:

"The administration is in contact with the Republic of Korea government and is monitoring the situation closely as we work to learn more." [21:45]
Shapiro on FBI Trust Decline:

"If you look, two words. The. Jesus, what I was going for. Jeez Louise, that's. There's two words right there among Republicans." [27:06]

Conclusion

In this episode, Ben Shapiro provides a comprehensive analysis of South Korea's attempted shift to military dictatorship, contextualizing it within a broader global decline in democratic checks and balances. He underscores the dangers of delegating political accountability to independent institutions, which often become politicized and exacerbate constitutional crises. Shapiro calls for a reassessment of how democracies handle corruption and political accountability to prevent further erosion of trust and stability.