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South Korea imposes travel ban on President Yoon over martial law investigation
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol has been banned from leaving the country as authorities investigate his role in a controversial martial law declaration last week. This is the first time an incumbent South Korean president has faced such a restriction, which is typically applied to suspects in serious criminal cases, as reported by The Korea Times.
The travel ban was requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and was promptly accepted by the Ministry of Justice. The move follows investigations into Yoon’s actions, with the president now a suspect in an ongoing probe into potential treason and abuse of power related to his brief martial law imposition. The decision to impose the ban was announced during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee on December 9, where Oh Dong-woon, CIO chief, confirmed that further legal actions, including a potential arrest, were under consideration.
The investigation comes after a failed parliamentary impeachment motion against President Yoon, which further fuelled opposition calls for his removal. The National Office of Investigation (NOI), which is also involved in the probe, has imposed travel restrictions on four high-ranking government and military officials linked to the martial law plan. However, concerns have been raised over the impartiality of investigations, particularly regarding the role of prosecutors, some of whom have close ties with Yoon from his tenure as a former prosecutor.
Opposition leaders, including those from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), have called for a special counsel to handle the investigation, citing concerns that the current authorities may be compromised due to their relationship with the president. The DPK has introduced bills to create a special counsel to look into both the martial law declaration and allegations surrounding First Lady Kim Keon Hee’s alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scheme.
Yoon’s political opponents have also voiced fears that his continued control over the military could lead to further destabilisation, prompting calls for him to be stripped of his military command. Despite this, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed that Yoon retains his authority over the armed forces.
As South Korea navigates this unprecedented political crisis, the question remains whether the president will be held accountable for his actions or if the government will continue to rally behind him.
