Sunday, December 08, 2024 - South Korean police have launched an investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol over allegations of “insurrection” following his declaration of martial law earlier this week.
The decree, which lasted six hours, plunged the country into
political chaos.
The inquiry follows two complaints filed by the opposition
Rebuilding Korea party and 59 activists. According to Yonhap News Agency,
prosecutors are also launching an investigation against Interior Minister Kim
Seon Ho and former defence minister Kim Yong Hyun for their roles in the
crisis.
President Yoon declared martial law in an extraordinary
late-night televised address on Tuesday, citing unnamed security threats.
The emergency measure suspended civilian rule deployed
soldiers and helicopters to the National Assembly and triggered widespread
shock.
But the declaration of martial law, South Korea’s first
in over 40 years, was revoked within six hours after opposition
lawmakers voted against it early on Wednesday morning. Opposition parties have
condemned the move as a breach of the constitution and announced plans to
impeach the president.
A parliamentary vote is scheduled for Saturday evening, with
Democratic Party spokesperson Jo Seoung Iae urging conservative lawmakers to
reflect on what he described as an “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or
coup”.
South Korea’s military leaders have distanced themselves
from Mr Yoon’s actions.
General Park Ahn Soo, the army chief tasked with overseeing
martial law, told parliament on Thursday that he had only learned of the
declaration when the president announced it on live television, reported
the Financial Times.
“I found out about the martial law declaration watching
Yoon’s press conference,” General Park said, adding that the military’s role
was directed by Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who has since resigned.
Vice Defence Minister Kim Seon Ho, similarly claimed he was
informed of the president’s plans only after the announcement.
“While we are military experts, we are not experts on
martial law,” General Park said during his testimony.
Lee Jae Myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party and
Mr Yoon’s main rival in the 2022 presidential election described his disbelief
upon seeing the announcement.
He told CNN, “That night after I got off work, I was lying
in bed with my wife … when she showed me a YouTube video and said, ‘The
president is declaring martial law.’ I replied, ‘That’s a deepfake. It has to
be a deepfake. There’s no way that’s real.’” He recalled being shocked when he
realised the announcement was genuine.
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