Prosecutors open investigation into South Korean president after martial law

South Korean prosecutors on December 5 opened an investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol and a series of senior officials for their roles in efforts to declare martial law.

South Korean prosecutors have launched an investigation into President Yoon Suk-yeol, Interior Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Yonhap reported. Kim Yong-hyun also faces a travel ban while prosecutors investigate, while the other two are not.

According to Yonhap, citing legal sources, South Korean Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung ordered prosecutors to launch their own investigation and assigned the case to the public security investigation division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. With Shim's decision, both police and prosecutors are investigating the cases at the same time.

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Earlier, Yonhap reported that South Korean police had launched an investigation into allegations that President Yoon Suk Yeol committed treason when he declared martial law. The investigation was assigned to the security investigation team of the National Investigation Bureau of the Korean National Police Agency after two complaints were filed.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol

One complaint was filed by the Korean Restoration Party, while the other was filed by a group of 59 activists. The lawsuits accuse not only President Yoon Suk-yeol, but also former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Army Chief of Staff General Park An-su and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min of treason and other related charges for their roles in imposing martial law.

President Yoon on December 3 cited threats from “anti-state forces” and obstructionist political opponents to declare martial law. However, Mr. Yoon reversed the decision after just six hours, causing the biggest political crisis in decades in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

Mr. Yoon now faces an impeachment vote on December 7, according to Reuters. If the impeachment motion is passed, President Yoon will be suspended from office until the Constitutional Court makes a ruling. President Yoon will be removed from office if at least six Constitutional Court justices support the impeachment and South Korea will hold a general election within 60 days to choose a new leader.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cong-to-vien-mo-cuoc-dieu-tra-ve-tong-thong-han-quoc-sau-thiet-quan-luat-185241205172307043.htm