Seoul: South Korea’s opposition leader urged a top court on Sunday to swiftly formalise the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol and ease the “suffering of the people” after his short-lived martial law decree.
Lawmakers voted on Saturday to remove Yoon from office over his “insurrectionary” suspension of civilian rule, which plunged South Korea into some of its worst political turmoil in years.
Yoon has been suspended while South Korea’s Constitutional Court deliberates, with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo serving as interim leader. The court has 180 days to rule on Yoon’s future.
But opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Sunday urged the judges to “swiftly” remove Yoon from office.
“This is the only way to minimise national turmoil and alleviate the suffering of the people,” he said.
“To hold those responsible for this absurd situation accountable and to prevent its recurrence, it is essential to uncover the truth and demand accountability.”
An investigation into Yoon’s inner circle over last week’s martial law declaration has also rumbled on. On Sunday, prosecutors said they were seeking an arrest warrant for the head of the Army Special Warfare Command Kwak Jong-keun, media said.
Kwak is accused of sending special forces troops to the country’s parliament during the failed martial law bid — sparking a dramatic confrontation between soldiers and parliamentary staff.
And on Saturday, police arrested Yeo In-hyung, head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, on charges including insurrection. –Agencies
