South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol Is Prohibited From Traveling Amid Military Emergency Investigations

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. (Wikimedia Commons/KOCIS Official/Kang Min Seok)

JAKARTA - South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was banned from traveling on Monday, amid an investigation into allegations of betrayal and other charges related to the implementation of martial law that took effect last week.

The ban was imposed by the Ministry of Justice shortly after the Corruption Investigation Office for High Officials (CIO) said it had submitted a request for the order, quoted from The Korea Times December 9.

President Yoon apologized for the failed attempt, saying he left his political and legal fate to the ruling People's Power Party (PPP), although he had not resigned.

Head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High Official Oh Dong-woon said he had ordered a travel ban overseas for President Yoon when asked at parliamentary hearings about what action had been taken against the president.

Justice Ministry official Bae Sang-up told the committee the travel ban order had been implemented.

The panel was formed in 2021 to investigate high-ranking officials including the president and members of his family, but has no authority to try the president. On the other hand, legally, the panel is required to refer the matter to the prosecutor's office.

It is known that President Yoon gave the military extensive emergency power on December 3 to eradicate what he called "state anti-state forces" and hindering political opponents.

Later, he withdrew the order six hours later, after parliament opposed the military siege and police to vote unanimously against the decree.

Yesterday, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said the president would be excluded from foreign affairs and other state affairs. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will manage government affairs until President Yoon resigns.

The proposal drew criticism from the opposition, which said the proposal was unconstitutional.

It said President Yoon should be impeached or resign and face lawsuits, and plans to submit another impeachment bill on Saturday.

Yoon's People's Power Party (PPP) has formed a task force to handle, among others, "political stabilization following an orderly military emergency and early resignation (Yoon)," a spokesman said on Monday.