South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been named a suspect by the country’s police and prosecutors in investigations of treason, rebellion and abuse of power against the president and many government officials. as well as high-ranking troops participating in martial law operations last week, according to Yonhap.
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke at the Presidential Office in Seoul (South Korea) on December 7
“Securing the necessary documents is paramount. We are deciding based on a comprehensive assessment, including the possibility that he will leave the country,” a Korean police officer said in a statement. press conference when asked why Mr. Yoon was not banned from traveling, according to Yonhap.
When asked about the possibility of arresting Mr. Yoon without a warrant, the official, who did not reveal his identity, replied that it could be done if the requirements were met.
The impeachment vote failed, and the Korean president temporarily escaped
Korean police also do not rule out the possibility of directly interrogating President Yoon, according to Yonhap. “There are no restrictions on the subject of investigation,” Woo Jong-soo, a senior South Korean police officer, told reporters.
The police have formed a special team of about 150 investigators to handle this case.
President Yoon declared martial law on December 3 but rescinded the order just hours after parliament met despite a blockade order by security forces to prevent voting.
Commander of South Korea’s 707th Task Force Kim Hyun-tae told reporters today that he received orders to prevent lawmakers from entering the meeting room to prevent a vote to lift martial law.
Mr. Kim Hyun-tae added that his unit entered the parliament grounds with orders to blockade the main building to prevent lawmakers from entering but was stopped by legislative staff inside. “We are all victims of being exploited by former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun,” Kim Hyun-tae told reporters outside the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul.
Mr. Kim Hyun-tae emphasized that he took all responsibility for the soldiers’ raid on the parliament above, but affirmed that he acted on orders from the defense minister. “The group members are not guilty. Their only crime is that they followed the commander’s orders,” Mr. Kim Hyun-tae said, trying to hold back tears.
Former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was arrested on December 8 for his role in declaring martial law and ordering the deployment of soldiers to the parliament.
Meanwhile, President Yoon escaped the impeachment vote in the National Assembly on December 7, which pushed South Korea into a constitutional crisis.
President Yoon said before the vote that he had entrusted his fate to the ruling party, but he did not offer to resign.
A spokesman for the South Korean Ministry of Defense today announced that President Yoon is still the commander-in-chief of South Korea, according to Reuters.
