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| President Yoon Addressing the public. Photo Credit: France 24 |
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol faces an unprecedented political and constitutional crisis as a failed martial law declaration has plunged the nation into chaos. Amid mounting calls for his resignation, Yoon has been barred from foreign travel as investigations into his actions intensify.
The South Korean Ministry of Justice confirmed on Monday that President Yoon has been banned from leaving the country while facing allegations of treason and rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials announced the travel restriction, emphasizing the gravity of the investigation into Yoon’s short-lived martial law declaration on December 3, which granted sweeping emergency powers to the military to suppress "anti-state forces" and was met with immediate backlash from lawmakers and protesters across the country. The declaration was rescinded just six hours later after parliament unanimously rejected it, but the damage to Yoon's credibility and authority was already done.
The political fallout has been severe. An impeachment motion against Yoon narrowly failed on Saturday after members of his People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote, denying the opposition the required two-thirds majority. Despite surviving impeachment, Yoon has ceded significant authority. PPP leader Han Dong-hoon announced Sunday that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would take over the administration of state affairs, including foreign relations, while Yoon remains under investigation .
This arrangement has drawn condemnation from the opposition Democratic Party (DP), which has labeled it unconstitutional and continues to push for Yoon’s resignation or impeachment. Senior DP lawmaker Kim Min-seok argued that Yoon must be stripped of his military command authority and prosecuted for his role in the martial law debacle.
Therom Yoon’s martial law order extends beyond politics. Discontent is brewing within the military ranks, with senior officers openly opposing the president’s actions. Colonel Kim Hyun-tae, commander of South Korea’s elite 707th Special Missions Group, publicly criticized the former defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, for involving his troops in an attempt to block parliamentary opposition. Kim Yong-hyun has since been arrested, becoming the first high-ranking official detained in the scandal .
The political crisis has cast doubt on Yoon’s ability to maintain control over the military, with several senior officers refusing to follow any future orders to impose martial law.
The crisis comes at a critical time for South Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a global hub for technology and trade. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung warned that the instability threatens the economy and the nation’s international standing. Financial regulators have activated contingency plans to stabilize markets, while the Cabinet has pledged to prioritize public welfare and maintain alliances with key partners like the United States and Japan .
Prime Minister Han has emphasized the importance of continuity in governance to reassure allies and investors, but questions remain over the constitutional validity of his expanded role.
In a televised address, Yoon expressed regret for his actions, describing them as a response to a national emergency but acknowledging the anxiety and inconvenience caused to the public. However, he stopped short of resigning, leaving his political future in the hands of his party. PPP leaders have formed a task force to explore an "orderly resignation," though the timeline and details remain uncertain.
The opposition has vowed to reintroduce impeachment motions, signaling that the battle over Yoon’s presidency is far from over. As investigations continue, the president's fate hangs in the balance, and South Korea finds itself in the throes of a constitutional crisis with far-reaching implications for its democracy and governance.