Getty ImagesSouth Korean authorities have imposed a travel ban on President Yeon Suk-yeol, who is under investigation for declaring martial law for a short period last Tuesday.
Yoon is upset He survived an impeachment motion against him over the weekend, after lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party boycotted the vote.
PPP members said they decided not to support the proposal after Yoon agreed to shorten his term and not interfere in foreign and internal affairs.
However, the opposition Democratic Party, which controls the majority in parliament, criticized the agreement, with parliament leader Park Chan-dae calling it “a second illegal and unconstitutional rebellion and a second coup.”
Tens of thousands of people have come out to protest since the short-lived martial law order was issued, demanding that he resign or be removed.
Since then, although the impeachment motion failed, several key figures involved in the martial law order have seen action taken against them.
Former Defense Minister Kim Young-hyun, who was said to have suggested declaring martial law on Yoon, was arrested on Sunday. He resigned earlier on Wednesday after apologizing and saying he would take “full responsibility.”
Travel bans were imposed on Kim, Lee, Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yu In-hyung, and Chief of Staff Park An-soo.
Many others have resigned from their positions.
They include former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, who resigned on Sunday, saying he would take responsibility for “failing to serve the public and the president well.”
On Wednesday, senior aides in Yoon's office, including his chief of staff, submitted en masse resignations hours after the martial law declaration was lifted.
The opposition describes the Pakistan People's Party's proposal as a “second coup”
In a public speech on Sunday, Pakistan People's Party leader Han Dong-hun said Yoon would no longer be involved in foreign and domestic affairs until his early resignation – adding that Prime Minister Han Dak-soo would run government affairs in the meantime.
“The president will not participate in any state affairs, including diplomacy, before his exit,” party leader Han said.
However, Democratic Party bloc leader Park Chan-dae described the proposed plan as “a second illegal and unconstitutional rebellion and a second coup.”
Rep. Kim Min-seok of the Democratic Party similarly criticized the plan, saying “no one gave” PPP leader Han the authority to make such decisions.
“The announcement by the prime minister and the ruling party that they will jointly exercise the powers of the president, which no one granted them, is clearly unconstitutional,” he said, according to a report published by the Korea Herald newspaper.
The Ministry of National Defense confirmed in a press conference on Monday that the president retains command of the armed forces. This means that in the event of any foreign policy incidents, including any potential threat from North Korea, Yoon would still, in theory, be able to make executive decisions.
“The president can take the initiative again any time he changes his mind,” political science professor Shin Yeol of Myongji University told the Korea Herald.
“No one will be able to stop him, if Yun insists.”
On Saturday, Yoon apologized to the nation in his first appearance since martial law was declared. He pledged not to impose another martial law order, and apologized for the “concern and inconvenience” caused.
However, the opposition insisted that it “will not give up” on impeaching Yoon and pledged to hold an impeachment vote on Yoon every Saturday.
“We will definitely return this country to normal by Christmas and the end of the year and give it to you as a Christmas and year-end gift,” Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung told a frustrated crowd after a failed impeachment attempt on Saturday. .
He again urged Yoon to resign on Monday, telling a news conference that Yoon's actions were “destroying” South Korea and its economy.
