The South Korean Justice Ministry on Monday imposed a ban on leaving the country on President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is under investigation for “rebellion” after his short-lived proclamation of martial law six days ago, said a manager.
At a hearing, a parliamentarian asked whether Mr. Yoon had been banned from leaving the country. “Yes, that’s correct,” replied Bae Sang-up, an immigration official at the Justice Ministry.
South Korea’s opposition on Monday accused the ruling party of committing a “second coup” by refusing to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol after his failed attempt to impose martial law, and by being guilty of “illegal and unconstitutional” maneuvers to continue to govern.
South Korea plunged into political chaos a week earlier, when Mr. Yoon unexpectedly declared martial law, only to be forced to repeal it six hours later, under pressure from Parliament and the streets . By proclaiming martial law, he said he wanted to protect South Korea from “North Korean communist forces” and “eliminate elements hostile to the state”. Soldiers and police were deployed to seal Parliament, without preventing 190 deputies from entering to vote on the lifting of this state of exception. In front of the institution, thousands of people gathered to demand the resignation of Yoon Suk Yeol. On Saturday evening, as the impeachment motion against him was put to the vote, some 150,000 demonstrators gathered in front of Parliament, according to the police. The organizers claimed an attendance of one million protesters.
A motion for dismissal against him was put to a vote by deputies on Saturday but it failed, his People Power Party (PPP) having boycotted and invalidated the vote for lack of quorum. The PPP then explained that it “obtained” from Mr. Yoon, in exchange for this blockage, his “promise” that he would withdraw and that he would leave governance to his party as well as to the Prime Minister.
“Flagrant violation of the Constitution”
“No matter how they try to justify it […] it is a second act of rebellion and a second coup d’état, illegal and unconstitutional,” thundered Park Chan-dae, leader of the Democratic Party in Parliament, largely supported by the opposition, on Monday. The South Korean Constitution provides that the president remains the head of government and the armed forces unless he is unable to assume his functions (if he falls into a coma for example), resigns or is dismissed. In these cases, his authority is terminated. handed over to the Prime Minister until the holding a new election, asserting that Yoon Suk Yeol can remain in his post, while relinquishing his powers to the Prime Minister and the PPP, is “a blatant violation of the Constitution, without any legal basis”, criticized Park Chan. dae. The situation is akin to a “silent coup,” Kim Hae-won, professor of constitutional law at the Busan National Law Faculty, told AFP.
The authorities have already arrested the former Minister of Defense in office during the unrest from Tuesday to Wednesday, searched his office, placed several officials under a ban on leaving the territory and summoned on Monday the commander of the short-lived martial law to question him. President Yoon himself could be summoned, police said on Monday, adding that they were “considering” banning him from leaving the country, amid the acceleration of investigations. The police will conduct their investigations “in accordance with the law and rules, without any exceptions”, assured Woo Jong-soo, head of investigations of the national police.
On Monday, the Defense Ministry nevertheless affirmed that Yoon Suk Yeol remained at the head of the country’s security apparatus, highlighting the complexity of the political situation. “Legally, (control of the armed forces) is currently in the hands of the commander-in-chief (Yoon),” said Jeon Ha-kyou, a ministry spokesman.
Unpopular leader Yoon, 63, apologized Saturday for declaring martial law, but did not resign. He then justified his coup by his “despair as president”, while Parliament torpedoed practically all his initiatives. “I have caused anxiety and inconvenience to the public. I offer my sincere apologies,” he concluded before bowing deeply to the viewers.
The opposition has set its new attempt to impeach Mr. Yoon for Saturday, December 14. New large-scale gatherings around the National Assembly are planned. The president’s approval rating has reached a low of 11 percent, according to a new Gallup poll released Monday by local media outlets.