New Delhi:
Former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun has been arrested for his role in declaring martial law, local media reported on Sunday, which sparked unrest in the country. Kim had already resigned after President Yoon Sook Yeol briefly imposed martial law late Tuesday, sending troops and helicopters to Parliament.
A few hours later, Yoon had to withdraw the order and Parliament rejected his order. A travel ban had already been imposed on Kim. Police have launched an investigation against Yoon and others for alleged rebellion.
The prosecutor’s office was not immediately available for comment on Kim’s arrest, according to reports by Yonhap news agency and other local media outlets on Sunday morning. Yun was challenged in parliament late on Saturday against the impeachment motion, although there were massive protests in the streets outside.
What’s going on in South Korea?
All but three lawmakers of the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) on Saturday boycotted the vote on the impeachment motion against President Yun Suk-yeol. This has strengthened Yoon’s chances of escaping impeachment.
- Most of the 108 lawmakers from the ruling People’s Power Party, except three, left the parliamentary hall after voting against a bill to investigate scandals involving Yun’s wife. Xinhua news agency reported that one MP from the ruling party remained in the hall and two returned after leaving.
- Of the 300 MPs in the National Assembly, 198 voted in favor of the bill for a special prosecutor investigation into the First Lady, while 102 voted against it. To pass the bill, at least two-thirds of the MPs are required to vote in its support. To pass the impeachment motion, more than 200 MPs will have to support it.
- The motion will be rejected at 00:48 am local time on Sunday as it must be voted on between 24 hours and 72 hours after it is reported to the National Assembly.
- The Democratic Party and five other small parties had on Wednesday presented an impeachment motion on the declaration of martial law by the President.
- Yun declared emergency martial law on Tuesday night, but revoked it on Wednesday after parliament voted against it. Martial law remained in force only for a few hours.
- Earlier, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Saturday that he will let the ruling People’s Power Party decide about his tenure.
- Yun said in a televised address that he would let the ruling party take decisions on stabilizing the political situation, including the remainder of his presidential term, Xinhua news agency reported. He said that the party and the government will together take responsibility for the affairs of the state.
The embattled president said he was deeply sorry and sincerely apologized to those who were shocked by the martial law declaration. He said that they cannot escape their legal and political responsibility for this. Yun bowed his head before the cameras and insisted that no more martial law would be declared.
(This news has not been edited by NDTV team. It is published directly from the syndicate feed.)
