South Korean police have launched an investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol over allegations of “insurrection” following his declaration of martial law earlier this week.
The decree, which lasted six hours, plunged the country into political chaos.
The inquiry follows two complaints filed by the opposition Rebuilding Korea party and 59 activists. According to Yonhap News Agency, prosecutors are also launching an investigation against Interior Minister Kim Seon Ho and former defence minister Kim Yong Hyun for their roles in the crisis.
President Yoon declared martial law in an extraordinary late-night televised address on Tuesday, citing unnamed security threats.
The emergency measure suspended civilian rule deployed soldiers and helicopters to the National Assembly and triggered widespread shock.
But the declaration of martial law, South Korea’s first in over 40 years, was revoked within six hours after opposition lawmakers voted against it early on Wednesday morning. Opposition parties have condemned the move as a breach of the constitution and announced plans to impeach the president.
A parliamentary vote is scheduled for Saturday evening, with Democratic Party spokesperson Jo Seoung Iae urging conservative lawmakers to reflect on what he described as an “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup”.
South Korea’s military leaders have distanced themselves from Mr Yoon’s actions.
General Park Ahn Soo, the army chief tasked with overseeing martial law, told parliament on Thursday that he had only learned of the declaration when the president announced it on live television, reported the Financial Times.
“I found out about the martial law declaration watching Yoon’s press conference,” General Park said, adding that the military’s role was directed by Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who has since resigned.
Vice Defence Minister Kim Seon Ho, similarly claimed he was informed of the president’s plans only after the announcement.
“While we are military experts, we are not experts on martial law,” General Park said during his testimony.
Lee Jae Myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party and Mr Yoon’s main rival in the 2022 presidential election described his disbelief upon seeing the announcement.
He told CNN, “That night after I got off work, I was lying in bed with my wife … when she showed me a YouTube video and said, ‘The president is declaring martial law.’ I replied, ‘That’s a deepfake. It has to be a deepfake. There’s no way that’s real.’” He recalled being shocked when he realised the announcement was genuine.
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