National crisis in South Korea
Military prevents police from arresting President Yoon
Yoon Suk Yeol briefly imposed martial law in South Korea in early December. The police want to arrest the suspended head of state – but are faced with a hurdle.
A military unit has prevented law enforcement in South Korea from arresting suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. This was reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing the police. The unit stopped the measure on the grounds of Yoon’s official residence, it said. The investigators from the Corruption Investigation Authority had previously stated that the operation to arrest the head of state, who has been temporarily removed from power, had begun.
Even before the action, it was suspected that the security service could thwart the prosecutors’ plans. Thousands of Yoon’s supporters had been protesting in front of the president’s official residence since New Year’s Day and blocking access for investigators.
The authorities want to question Yoon about the sudden declaration of martial law a month ago, which plunged the country into a state crisis. So far he has ignored three summonses from prosecutors.
Yoon plunged South Korea into a serious political crisis
In view of a budget dispute, Yoon surprisingly made use of the declaration of martial law on December 3rd, thereby alarming both at home and abroad. However, the opposition-dominated parliament used its veto power in a dramatic session, whereupon Yoon lifted martial law after a few hours.
On December 14, Parliament voted to remove the president, who has since been suspended from office. The Constitutional Court ultimately decides on a final impeachment.
The brief declaration of martial law plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades. Tensions worsened further last week when parliament voted to also remove Yoon’s successor, interim President Han Duck Soo.
The opposition had requested the vote on the grounds that Han had refused to complete Yoon’s impeachment process. Finance Minister Choi Sang Mok took Hans’ place.
DPA · AFP
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Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
