The Democratic Party filed complaints with the police against at least nine people, including Yoon and the former defense minister
South Korea’s Ministry of Justice said today that it has banned President Yoon Suk-yeol from traveling abroad while he is under investigation due to the imposition of martial law last week.
During a parliamentary hearing, an official from the Ministry of Justice’s immigration services, Bae Sang-up, said the ban had already been issued.
Shortly before, in the same session, the chief prosecutor of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Level Officials, Oh Dong-woon, said that he had requested this ban.
The office, known as the CIO, is one of several security and judicial bodies, including the Public Prosecutor’s Office and police, investigating the circumstances surrounding Yoon’s imposition of martial law.
Hours earlier, the local press had reported that the South Korean police were also considering banning the President from traveling abroad, while investigating possible suspicions of treason, rebellion and abuse of power.
South Korea’s main opposition party called Yoon’s imposition of martial law an “unconstitutional and illegal rebellion or coup.”
The Democratic Party (PD) filed complaints with the police against at least nine people, including Yoon and the former defense minister.
South Korean prosecutors on Sunday detained former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who reportedly recommended that Yoon declare martial law.
While the president has immunity from prosecution while in office, this does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason.
Also this Monday, the opposition criticized the ruling People’s Party (PPP) for refusing to remove Yoon.
“No matter how much they try to justify (…) this is a second act of rebellion and a second coup, illegal and unconstitutional,” said Park Chan-dae, parliamentary leader of the PD.
On Saturday, Yoon narrowly escaped a first impeachment motion, submitted to Parliament. The PPP boycotted and invalidated the vote due to lack of quorum.
In a statement, the PPP stated that it had obtained, in exchange for blocking the motion, the promise that Yoon would withdraw to leave the governance of the country to his formation and the prime minister.
“Even before his withdrawal, the President will not interfere in state affairs or foreign affairs,” certified PPP leader Han Dong-hoon on Sunday.
South Korean Parliament Speaker Won Woo-shik said that “the joint exercise of presidential authority by the prime minister and the ruling party (…) is a clear violation of the Constitution.”
For Kim Hae-won, professor of constitutional law at Busan National Law School, this agreement is similar to a “silent coup d’état”.
On Sunday, the PD announced that it will try again to remove the President, on December 14th.
Yoon proclaimed martial law on December 3, a measure he was forced to lift just six hours later.
