South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been banned from leaving the country after he was charged with treason for declaring martial law last week.
Yoon made the bizarre decision to declare martial law on Tuesday night, saying that he was doing it to combat “unscrupulous pro-Pyongyang anti-state forces.”
He also blamed the majority leftist-led National Assembly for making it impossible for him to govern by blocking his policy objectives, saying that they were aiding “North Korean communist forces.”
National Assembly members had to climb over gates and walls as well as fight through armed soldiers to get to their chamber to vote against the martial law, which the constitution of South Korea allows them to do.
It seems like some soldiers did not try as hard as they could to prevent the lawmakers from convening, which may be due to the irregularity of the situation.
The assembly voted unanimously against martial law and opened a treason investigation against Yoon. They tried to impeach him but were blocked by factions in the People's Power Party (PPP), to which Yoon belongs.
The travel ban was imposed on Yoon because he was considered a flight risk. The assembly is also considering banning the first lady, Kim Keon-hee, from leaving the country as well.
Some other members of his administration are also banned from traveling due to their involvement in the decision to declare martial law.
The ban could prevent Yoon from engaging in diplomacy, as presidents often need to do.
Yoon is technically still in charge of the military, but the legislature has vowed to ignore any subsequent declarations of martial law from Yoon.
Yoon promised that “there will never be a second martial law” and said that the PPP will decide his fate as president.
“This declaration of martial law was born out of desperation as the president, the ultimate head of state. But it has caused anxiety and discomfort to the people in the process,” Yoon said. “I am deeply sorry for this, and I sincerely apologize to the people who must have been greatly surprised.”
Leftist groups have been calling for Yoon's resignation during daily protests, but there have been conservative rallies in his support.
It's good to see democracy working and squelching this kind of power grab.
