Seoul: South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been banned from leaving the country amid an investigation into temporary martial law, the Yonhap news agency reported on Monday.
The ban was imposed by the justice ministry shortly after the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) for High-ranking officials said it had submitted a request for the order, the report said.
According to media reports, President Yoon has been booked as a suspect in simultaneous investigations by the police, prosecution, and CIO over his surprise declaration of martial law.
A motion to impeach the president was also submitted by the main opposition Democratic Party and other opposition parties afterward, but it was scrapped Saturday after all but three lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party boycotted a vote on the motion.
Bae Sang-eop, a senior immigration official at the justice ministry, stated that travel bans are typically issued after a simple review of formal requirements.
He said the ban had been imposed on Yoon sometime after 3 p.m. The order was lifted six hours later after the National Assembly voted to end it, Yonhap news agency reported.
According to reports, CIO chief Oh Dong-woon told the hearing his office is committed to carrying out a thorough investigation into “the leader and key offenders related to treason” with the suspects under physical detention, in principle.
When asked if the CIO had requested a travel ban on first lady Kim Keon Hee, he said it would be reviewed.
