South Korea’s prosecutor’s office has labelled President Yoon Suk Yeol a suspect in a sedition case and is investigating, Korean media reported on Sunday.
“Many relevant complaints have been received and we are investigating according to procedures. Procedurally, it is correct (recognising him as a suspect),” Park Se-hyun, head of the prosecutor’s office’s special martial law emergency investigation headquarters, said at a press briefing.
The prosecutor’s office is investigating both charges against the president (abuse of power and mutiny), he emphasised.
“If the facts of this case can be easily explained in one word, the public official abused his power and rioted to violate the state constitution,” the prosecutor’s office spokesperson added.
On December 3, Yoon announced martial law, accusing the opposition of undermining the constitutional order and supporting North Korea. He attributed his decision to the parliament blocking the judiciary and executive branch because of attempts to declare impeachment of government officials.
Protests erupted in Seoul afterwards, and civil activists confronted soldiers who had been brought into the capital. A few hours later, martial law was lifted. On December 7, the parliament voted on the impeachment issue, but there were not enough votes for such a decision.
