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South Korea
This Week in AsiaPolitics

Korean Air pilots fired after fist fight over ex-president Yoon’s martial law call

The altercation is one of the more dramatic examples of the political polarisation triggered by Yoon’s impeachment, observers say

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Korean Air’s new logo is unveiled in Gimpo, South Korea, on March 11. Photo: Reuters
Park Chan-kyong
Two Korean Air pilots have reportedly been fired after a physical altercation during a layover in Australia sparked by a disagreement over former president Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment – an incident seen by many as yet another sign of South Korea’s stark political polarisation.

The fight took place on December 19 at a hotel in Brisbane, where the captain and co-pilot were resting after flying from Incheon.

News reports said the brawl began as a verbal disagreement over Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law on December 3 and his subsequent impeachment by the National Assembly 11 days later.

Australian police were called to the scene. The captain sustained injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The two were originally scheduled to operate the return flight together, but were immediately grounded and replaced by a substitute crew.

Supporters of former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol gather in Seoul on Saturday, a day after the Constitutional Court removed him from office over his December 3 martial law declaration. Photo: Kyodo
Supporters of former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol gather in Seoul on Saturday, a day after the Constitutional Court removed him from office over his December 3 martial law declaration. Photo: Kyodo

Korean Air arranged for the pilots to return to South Korea on separate flights.

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