Martial law crisis in South Korea: Yoon Suk-Yeol's name on detention list

The South Korean National Assembly passed a bill today demanding the detention of eight officials, including President Yoon Suk-Yeol, who declared martial law in the country. The Assembly also approved the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the 'insurrection' allegations leveled against Yoon due to the declaration of martial law.

INVESTIGATION BILL PASSED WITH 210 VOTES

According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, the bill passed by the National Assembly authorizes a special prosecutor to investigate the accusations against President Yoon Suk-Yeol. The bill, which calls for an investigation into Yoon, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Park An-su, and other officials, passed the National Assembly with 210 votes against 63 'no' votes and 14 'abstentions'.

Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP), who had left the General Assembly hall during the impeachment vote for Yoon, participated in this vote. The party had previously decided not to set a party line on whether to accept or reject the bill. The passed bill also requests an investigation into Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, and PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho. 

OPPOSITION ADDS YOON'S NAME TO DETENTION LIST

Unlike other special prosecutor investigations, President Yoon does not have the right to veto this bill; however, he can delay the appointment of the prosecutor. 

In the vote held today in the General Assembly, a bill demanding the 'immediate detention' of eight officials, including Yoon, also passed the National Assembly with 191 votes to 94. Three abstentions were cast in the vote for this bill. This opposition-led bill had been approved at a committee meeting held on Thursday. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) later added Yoon's name to the bill and submitted it to the Assembly. 

DP lawmaker Park Sung-joon stated in the National Assembly that Yoon had been added to the list, explaining that the President led the 'crime of insurrection' and that the crime in question aimed to overthrow the South Korean National Assembly. During the parliamentary session, the DP also submitted motions for the impeachment of Justice Minister Park Sung-jae and Korean National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji-ho. The DP is expected to put these impeachment motions to a vote at the National Assembly session to be held on Thursday. 

WHAT HAPPENED?

South Korean President Yoon declared martial law in a televised speech on the night of December 3, citing the 'opposition's involvement in anti-state activities,' but took a step back after the parliament voted to lift the decision and it was approved by the Cabinet. Yoon accused the opposition of 'preventing the government from functioning' and argued that martial law was intended to 'eliminate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional order of freedom.'

Following the declaration of martial law, the Ministry of Defense had instructed military commanders to meet and called for them to be on alert. Meanwhile, it was reported that soldiers assigned as 'martial law troops' had entered the National Assembly. In an emergency session held at the National Assembly, the motion to lift the martial law decision was accepted with the votes of 190 lawmakers. The National Assembly Speaker's Office announced that martial law had become 'null and void' following the vote.

Upon this, Yoon convened the Cabinet and announced that he had ended martial law following the cabinet's approval. The main opposition Democratic Party and 5 small opposition parties had submitted a motion to the assembly for the president's removal from office on the grounds that Yoon's declaration of martial law was unconstitutional and illegal.

The motion, which required the approval of 200 lawmakers to pass, was not accepted as the sufficient number could not be reached. It was reported that a travel ban had been imposed on President Yoon Suk Yeol as part of the investigation conducted on suspicion of 'treason'.

News Source: 12punto