President Yoon Suk Yeol faces a police investigation and potential impeachment following his controversial declaration of martial law.
Following the president’s brief imposition of martial law, South Korean authorities have initiated an investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to a senior police official.
Woo Jong-soo, head of the National Police Agency’s investigative unit, confirmed to South Korean lawmakers that an inquiry into President Yoon, on suspicion of “insurrection,” is underway, as reported by AFP on Thursday.
The crisis began Tuesday when President Yoon unexpectedly announced emergency martial law on national television, alleging an impending “rebellion” by the opposition, whom he accused of North Korean sympathies.
However, within hours, 190 lawmakers, overcoming military barriers to access the National Assembly, unanimously voted to revoke the decree. Simultaneously, widespread public protests erupted against the president’s actions.
President Yoon rescinded the martial law declaration less than six hours later, on Wednesday morning. The opposition Democratic Party, holding a parliamentary majority, subsequently announced impeachment proceedings against him.
Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) vowed to oppose the impeachment effort.
“All 108 of our lawmakers will stand united to reject the president’s impeachment,” stated Choo Kyung-ho, the party’s floor leader, during a live party meeting.
PPP leader Han Dong-hoon clarified to reporters that their opposition to impeachment wasn’t an endorsement of the president’s unconstitutional actions.
According to Yonhap news agency, an impeachment vote is scheduled for Saturday, requiring only eight votes from PPP members to succeed.
A successful impeachment vote would temporarily suspend President Yoon, pending a Constitutional Court ruling. Impeachment confirmation would trigger a presidential election within two months.