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.