Just hours ago, South Korea had been settling down to sleep. But just after midnight, South Korea's President Yoon made a televised announcement that sent the country into turmoil.

He warned that the country was on the verge of collapse, and announced that he would impose martial lawThe temporary suspension of civil law and its replacement with direct military control of society and its institutions. in response to "anti-state" opposition forces which he claims sympathise with North Korea.

Many think the declaration was little more than an attempt to seize back power and turn South Korea into an autocracyA society ruled by a single person or group with absolute power..

But it was short-lived as 190 of South Korea's 300 MPs voted the period of emergency martial law over after just two hours and 48 minutes.

The scene might feel familiar to you. A right-wing president who thinks of himself as above the law.

It might as well be a description of the USA. With a second Trump presidency incoming, many think this will not be the only insurrectionA violent uprising against a government. we see in the coming months.

And some fear that it would be harder to disarm a power-hungry Trump. While President Yoon's approval rating hovers at just 20%, president-elect Trump is now seeing an approval rating 20 points higher than when he left the White House in 2021.

Could Washington feel like Seoul in 12 months?

Yes! Trump has already expressed his willingness to become an autocratic leader who does not have to defer to democratic institutions.

No! The USA has strong constitutional protections in place to ensure that no single person can destroy its democracy.