Economist Podcasts The splitting image: Yoon verdict will deepen divisions
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Feb 19, 2026 
Noah Sneider, East Asia bureau chief who covers South Korean politics; Alex Domash, economics correspondent who analyses labour and AI; Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor who reviews memoirs. They discuss Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial-law crisis and the polarization it exposed. They debate AI’s impact on white-collar work. They examine Gisèle Pelicot’s memoir and its cultural resonance.
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Martial Law Revealed Democratic Strength And Strain
- Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law exposed both the resilience and deep polarization of South Korea's democracy.
- Institutions held firm but the episode magnified societal divides that will take years to heal.
Conservative Party Fractures Under Yoon's Shadow
- The People Power Party split into pro- and anti-Yoon factions, creating an identity crisis for conservatives.
- A far-right fringe using online platforms and MAGA-style imagery has amplified the pro-Yoon faction's influence.
Verdict Reinforces Martyrdom, Ballot Box Holds Power
- Today's verdict may cement Yoon as a martyr among his base but is unlikely to change their views.
- Electoral defeat, not legal verdicts, is the likeliest mechanism to force the party to reform.
