The chief prosecutor of the South Korea’s corruption investigation bureau has directed a travel ban to be imposed on President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is still under investigation in the aftermath of his martial law declaration last week.
Travel bans have also been enforced on several senior officials in Yoon’s administration.
This latest development is coming even as thousands of people had come out in protest to demand for Yoon’s resignation or impeachment since the short-lived martial law order
However, a vote to impeach Yoon was unsuccessful on Saturday, leading to the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to state instead that its party leader and prime minister would run the country until the president’s “orderly exit”.
PPP’s leader Han Dong-hoon had in a public address on Sunday, said Yoon would no longer be involved in foreign and domestic affairs until his early resignation – adding that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would in the meantime, manage government affairs.
This decision had not boded well for some politicians including Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae who described the proposed plan as “an illegal, unconstitutional second insurrection and a second coup”.
Representative Kim Min-seok of the Democratic Party additionally criticised the plan, saying “nobody gave” PPP leader Han the power to make such decisions.
Following this, the opposition promised to hold impeachment votes against Yoon every Saturday.
On the internet, many South Koreans expressed their concerns, saying there was a lack of clarity on who was currently leading the country.
During a briefing on Monday, the Ministry of National Defence confirmed
that the president was still in command of the armed forces.
What this means is that in the event of any foreign policy incidents, including any likely threat from North Korea, Yoon is still, in theory, able to make executive decisions.
On Saturday Yoon made his first appearance since the martial law announcement, promising that he would not impose another martial law order. He also apologised for the “anxiety and inconvenience” caused by his declaration.
However, the opposition disregarded his remorseful stance, insisting that they “will not give up” on impeaching Yoon.
“We will definitely return this country to normal by Christmas and the end of the year and give it to you as a Christmas and end-of-year gift,” Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung told a disappointed crowd after Saturday’s failed impeachment attempt.
He once more, urged Yoon to resign on Monday, telling a press conference that Yoon’s actions were “destroying” South Korea and its economy.
