South Korean president banned from foreign travel after martial law attempt
SEOUL – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been banned from leaving the country over a failed attempt at imposing martial law, a justice ministry official said on Monday, amid growing calls for him to step down.
Yoon has apologised for the botched attempt and said he was leaving his political and legal fate to his ruling People Power Party (PPP) but has not resigned.
On Monday, the defence ministry said Yoon was still legally commander in chief, but growing dissent among senior military officers against the president has thrown into question his grip on power.
Oh Dong-woon, the head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, said he had barred Yoon from foreign travel, when asked at a parliament hearing what actions have been taken against the president.
A justice ministry official, Bae Sang-up, told the committee the travel ban order had been executed.
The panel was established in 2021 to investigate high-ranking officials, including the president and their family members, but it does not have authority to prosecute the president. Instead, it is by law required to refer the matter to the prosecutors’ office.
Yoon gave the military sweeping emergency powers on Dec. 3 to root out what he called “anti-state forces” and obstructionist political opponents. He rescinded the order six hours later, after parliament voted against the decree.
Amid the backlash, multiple military officials, including the acting defence minister, have said they would not follow any new order to impose martial law again.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has called for Yoon to be stripped of his authority over the military. The DP has also demanded the arrest of Yoon and any military officials implicated in the martial law fiasco.
On Sunday, the South Korean president has been booked as a suspect on charges of treason, according to Yonhap news agency.
“Numerous complaints have been submitted, and an investigation is underway in accordance with the process,” said Park Se-hyun, who leads a special investigation into Yoon’s declaration of martial law, adding that prosecutors are investigating the charges of treason and abuse of power against Yoon.
