South Korean president faces police investigation and impeachment vote

South Korean police have opened a “rebellion” investigation against the country’s president, Yoon Suk-yeol, following his failed attempt to impose martial law. A vote to impeach him has been scheduled for Saturday.

“The case is ongoing,” the police’s national investigations chief told MPs on Thursday. The president will make no public statement on Thursday, his office told reporters.

Yoon last spoke in public in the early hours of Wednesday morning when he was forced to abandon his attempt to impose martial law in the country under pressure from MPs and protestors. 

South Korea’s parliament is scheduled to vote on an impeachment motion on Saturday at 11.00 Belgian time. The opposition needs eight ruling party MPs to vote with them for the motion to pass.

“We will strive to prevent the adoption of this impeachment motion,” Han Dong-hoon, leader of Yoon’s party, told members at a live-streamed meeting. “The 108 deputies of the People's Power Party will remain united in rejecting the president's impeachment,” said party colleague Choo Kyung-ho.

Meanwhile, Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned on Wednesday as Defence minister, is facing a travel ban for his role in declaring martial law, news agency Yonhap reports, citing judicial sources.

 

Protest against president Yoon Suk Yeol outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, 4 December 2024 © PHOTO MATRIX IMAGES / KWAK KYUNG-KEUN

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