South Korea imposes a travel ban on President Yoon due to the declaration of martial law

South Korea’s Justice Department placed President Yoon Suk Yeol under an overseas travel ban on Monday amid an investigation into alleged treason and other charges over his temporary declaration of martial law.

Yoon declared martial law last Tuesday, which led to special forces being sent to the streets of Seoul and led to political protests.

On Saturday, Yoon escaped an opposition-led impeachment attempt, but the opposition vowed to issue a new impeachment motion this week.

Bae Sang-up, an official at the Ministry of Justice, said at a parliamentary hearing that they barred Yoon from leaving the country after requests from police, prosecutors and the anti-corruption agency as they expand their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Yoon’s announcement.

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A senior official of the National Police Agency told local reporters on Monday that the police could detain him and Yoon if conditions are met.

South Korea’s sitting president is immune from prosecution while in office, but that does not include immunity from charges of treason or treason.

Former President Park Geun-hye was ousted from office in 2017 after being impeached by parliament for corruption. Prosecutors failed to search his office and ended up finding documents outside the yard because the president’s officials refused to enter.

After refusing to meet with prosecutors while in power, Park was interrogated and imprisoned after the Constitutional Court upheld his prosecution and decided to remove him as president in March 2017.

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People hold candles during a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP)

The main opposition Democratic Party called Yoon’s declaration of martial law “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup d’état.” The party has filed complaints with the police against at least nine people, including Yoon and former defense minister, for alleged treason.

South Korean prosecutors arrested former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun on Sunday for allegedly recommending that Yoon declare martial law, making him the first person to be arrested in a martial law case.

The Ministry of Defense last week separately suspended three senior military commanders for alleged involvement in the imposition of martial law.

Yoon, a conservative, apologized on Saturday for the declaration of martial law, saying he would not want to avoid legal or political responsibility for the proposal. He said he would allow his party to lead the country through its political upheavals, including issues affecting his tenure.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during an interview at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee ​​Jin-man)

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In his declaration of martial law on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a “den of criminals” interfering in state affairs and vowed to eliminate “shameless North Korean sympathizers and anti-state militias.”

Yoon’s martial law declaration lasted only six hours because the National Assembly, including members of Yoon’s ruling People Power Party, voted to revoke it, forcing Yoon’s cabinet to remove it.

Ruling party leader Han Dong-hun said on Sunday that his party would force Yoon to step down quickly and orderly in a way that would reduce public confusion and that Yoon would not be involved in state affairs, including foreign policy.

During Monday’s briefing, the Defense Ministry said Yoon was maintaining control of the military, which the constitution clearly mandates for the president.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.