South Korea’s Yoon investigated for ‘insurrection’ ahead of Saturday impeachment vote

The decision came as Yoon replaced his defence chief, who was banned from leaving the country

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South Koreans attend a candlelight vigil condemning President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law in Seoul. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:45am, 5 Dec 2024Updated: 3:55pm, 5 Dec 2024

South Korean police announced on Thursday they were investigating President Yoon Suk-yeol for “insurrection” – a crime that transcends presidential immunity and can carry the death penalty – after the opposition filed a complaint against him and other key figures over a botched attempt to impose martial law.

The decision came as the country’s parliament introduced a motion to impeach Yoon, while the defence minister blamed for advising the short-lived move and ordering troops to the parliament resigned.

Lawmakers from the opposition Democratic Party planned to put up a vote in parliament to impeach Yoon at around 7pm (local time) on Saturday, a party spokesperson told reporters.

Yoon’s ruling People Power Party is divided over the crisis but said it would oppose impeachment with two years left in Yoon’s five-year term.

“The Yoon Suk-yeol regime’s declaration of emergency martial law caused great confusion and fear among our people,” Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won told a session of South Korea’s National Assembly held in the early hours of Thursday.

The Democratic Party needs at least eight of the 108 ruling-party lawmakers to back the bill for it to pass with a two-thirds majority of the 300-seat parliament.

South Korea’s Yoon investigated for ‘insurrection’ ahead of Saturday impeachment vote

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The decision came as Yoon replaced his defence chief, who was banned from leaving the country

The decision came as Yoon replaced his defence chief, who was banned from leaving the country