South Korea’s parliament has passed a bill to investigate the circumstances surrounding the imposition of martial law by the country’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and his suspected mutiny, Korean media reported on Tuesday.
“The bill to investigate Yoon Suk Yeol, former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Army Chief of Staff General Park An Soo and other officials involved in the declaration of martial law was passed by the Assembly by 210 votes to 63, with 14 abstentions,” the statement said.
In addition, deputies of the ruling Civic Force party are also known to have supported the bill, as the party leadership had not previously developed any position on the issue. The adopted document cannot be vetoed by the president, but he can delay the process of appointing a prosecutor using his authority.
On December 3, Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in the Republic of Korea. He accused the opposition of intending to stage a coup and “overthrow the government in favour of North Korea before ordering the army to enter the capital and block the parliament.” MPs responded by calling on citizens to take to the streets to defend the country. The president cancelled martial law, but provoked the opposition to declare impeachment.
