S Korean opposition urges swift removal of Yoon
Impeached president has been suspended while Constitutional Court deliberates, with PM Han Duck serving as interim leader. The court has 180 days to rule on Yoon's future
Monday, 16 December 2024
SEOUL, Dec 15 (AFP): 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, Yonhap news agency 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.
The investigators also said it had summoned Yoon for questioning over insurrection allegations. "We instructed him to appear for questioning at 10 am (GMT 0100), but he refused to comply," the prosecution said in a press release.
"We will issue a second summons," they said without giving details. And on Saturday, police arrested Yeo In-hyung, head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, on charges including insurrection.
The South Korean government has meanwhile sought to project an air of business as usual. Acting president Han on Sunday held a call with US President Joe Biden, who underscored the strength of bilateral ties.