South Korean army general arrested

Prosecutors in South Korea announced on December 17 that they had arrested General Park An-su, Chief of Staff of the South Korean Army.

Yonhap reported on December 17 that Park An-su was arrested by court order, accused of playing a key role in the rebellion and abuse of power. When South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law for six hours on the night of December 3, Park was appointed as the martial law commander and signed the decree.

Mr. Park was suspended from his position as chief of staff of the South Korean army since December 12, after the South Korean Ministry of National Defense announced that he was not capable of performing his duties while under investigation for the martial law incident.

South Korean Army Chief of Staff Park An-su testifies at the National Assembly on December 10.

According to The Korea Herald , Mr. Park has expressed his willingness to cooperate with the investigation and waived his right to defend himself. With the latest development, Mr. Park An-su has become the fifth important figure to be arrested after President Yoon declared martial law.

So far, in addition to Mr. Park, other high-ranking South Korean officials arrested include former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Defense Counterintelligence Command commander Yeo In-hyung, Special Operations Command commander Kwak Jong-keun and Capital Defense Command commander Lee Jin-woo.

In a related development, President Yoon's defense team on December 17 asserted that the decision to declare martial law does not constitute a crime of rebellion. Yoon's lawyer Seok Dong-hyeon said: "The president will present his views in court confidently and in accordance with what he believes."

The Constitutional Court of South Korea has now initiated the process of considering the impeachment of Mr. Yoon, to make the final decision on whether the South Korean president will be removed from office or reinstated. Mr. Yoon is currently suspended from office after the South Korean National Assembly passed the impeachment proposal.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dai-tuong-quan-doi-han-quoc-bi-bat-185241217173816306.htm