Headline
South Korea Imposes Restriction on President's Movement Due to Accusations of Insurgency Involvement
South Korean Head of State Yoon Suk Yeol Faces Travel Restrictions as Authorities Investigate Allegations of Rebellion Relating to His Attempt to Establish Martial Law in the Country Last Week
Key Details
South Korea's justice department imposed the travel restriction following a request from the country's Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
CIO head Oh Dong-woon disclosed that his office is conducting a comprehensive probe—comprising searches and seizures—focused on Yoon and other suspected individuals over charges of treason and rebellion.
As per Korean legislation, a serving president is shielded from criminal litigation in all instances except for leading an uprising or acts of treason.
The Korean National Police Agency confirmed that Yoon was apprehended on Monday in separate cases under investigation by the police and anti-corruption office for allegations of rebellion, mutiny, and abuse of power.
An agency representative commented that they stand prepared to apprehend Yoon if necessary.
Oh revealed to lawmakers in the national assembly that the CIO was contemplating the possibility of requesting a travel ban against the country's first lady Kim Keon Hee—who has also faced allegations of corruption.
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Diversion
A South Korean parliamentary committee approved a bill on Monday to appoint a special counsel to investigate claims of treason against Yoon. The opposition Democratic Party, which controls a large majority in the National Assembly, plans to submit the bill for a vote on Tuesday—despite protests and resistance from Yoon's People Power Party (PPP). The Democratic Party is also advocating for Yoon to relinquish command over the military along with his detention. No South Korean president has ever been detained while still in power.
Significant Quote
On Saturday, Yoon offered an apology to the country in a televised address, stating: “This declaration of martial law emerged out of desperation as the president, the supreme head of state. However, it has caused unease and discomfort to the people during the process. I am deeply sorry and would like to heartfeltly apologize to the people who were left shocked. I will not shirk my legal and political accountability in relation to this declaration of martial law. I will entrust my party with measures concerning my term in office and the political stability of the country.”
Pivotal Background
Last week, Yoon made an announcement in a televised speech that he would implement emergency martial law, accusing members of the opposition of “anti-state activities.” In his address, Yoon claimed that the action was required to “defend the free Republic of Korea” from “North Korean communist forces” and to eliminate “the shameful pro-North Korean anti-state forces” to “protect the free constitutional order.” As part of this initiative, Yoon gave the order for the nation's military to suppress the media by issuing a directive prohibiting “fake news, public opinion manipulation, and false propaganda.” This move prompted immediate disapproval and protests from the public, opposition parties, unions, and the national press. The martial law remained in effect for approximately six hours before the national assembly defied him and voted to rescind the order via a majority vote. The opposition Democratic party subsequently initiated an impeachment process against Yoon for his actions, but the attempt to oust the president failed after lawmakers from the PPP boycotted the vote. The impeachment effort required support from at least 200 of the assembly's 300 lawmakers—which meant that aside from the 192 opposition members, it required backing from at least 8 lawmakers from Yoon's party.
Additional Reading
Yoon Subjected to Travel Ban as Martial Law Investigation Intensifies (Yonhap News Agency)
What To Understand About South Korea’s Martial Law—As Yoon Vows to End It (Our Website)
Yoon Suk Yeol's travel restrictions have expanded to include international travel, as reported by various news outlets, due to the ongoing investigation into his attempts to establish martial law in South Korea.
The calls for a travel ban against Yoon Suk Yeol's wife, Kim Keon Hee, also surfaced following allegations of corruption against her, echoing the same probes and restrictions faced by her husband.
