December 10, 2024
Seoul – South Korea’s Justice Department said on Monday it had imposed a travel ban on South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, shortly after he was booked under a brief declaration of martial law on December 3, a rare move against a sitting president.
The decision comes after police said they were considering the measure through a “comprehensive assessment” of relevant factors and a number of investigative agencies, including the Office for the Investigation of Senior Officials into Corruption, called for the embattled president to be banned from traveling abroad.
Chief Prosecutor Oh Dong-woon told the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee that the chief prosecutor had submitted a request to impose a travel ban on Yoon at 3 p.m. Monday. Bae Sang-up, director of the Immigration Bureau of South Korea's Ministry of Justice, later confirmed that the request had been approved 35 minutes after Oh's statement.
Yoon was named as a suspect in both police and prosecutorial investigations on Monday on charges of rebellion, rebellion and abuse of power, according to South Korea's National Police Agency.
Authorities are also considering the possibility of arresting Yin without a warrant, the police official added, adding that “this is possible if the requirements are met.”
In South Korea, emergency arrests can be made without a warrant if the suspect is a risk of escaping or tampering with evidence, or if there are reasonable grounds to suspect of a crime punishable by death, life imprisonment, or at least three years in prison.
While a travel ban is similar in structure to an emergency arrest, its urgency must also be demonstrated.
The police stated that they will seriously investigate and deal with the case in accordance with laws, regulations and principles.
Oh Jong-soo, director of the National Investigation Office of the Korean National Police, said: “There is no limit to the scope of the investigation of this incident, regardless of the individuals or resources involved.”
On Sunday, South Korea's National Police announced that it had formed a team of 150 investigators to handle the case, including 30 officers dedicated to criminal intelligence.
“Due to the various controversies surrounding this case, the Office of National Investigation feels a heavy responsibility as the lead investigative agency on treason charges,” Wu added. “We will mobilize all available resources with a focus on the Special Investigation Team.”
Wu said police received five indictments related to the declaration of martial law from Wednesday to Friday. Eleven people, including Yin, were named in such reports.
