South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was already struggling with surging inflation, rising COVID-19 cases and historically low approval numbers. Then, he launched into a potentially explosive feud with the nation’s police force.
Yoon spent Tuesday defending his proposal to create a "police bureau” and assume greater control over the powerful law enforcement agency — a move that has prompted protests by senior officers.
As his interior minister attempted to walk back comments comparing their demonstration to a "military coup,” Yoon accused the officers of a lesser offense, saying they may have displayed a "serious breach” of discipline.