Seoul (South Korea), Jan 23 (LaPresse/AP) – South Korean investigators have asked prosecutors to indict detained President Yoon Suk Yeol for his brief imposition of martial law last month, charging him with insurrection, abuse of power and obstruction of parliament. The Office for the Investigation of Corruption of Senior Officials (Cio) said Yoon staged an ‘insurrection’ and tried to undermine the Constitution when he declared martial law on 3 December and sent troops and police officers to seal off the National Assembly. Lee Jae-seung, deputy chief prosecutor of the CIO, said in a televised briefing that Yoon also abused his power by mobilising troops for an illegitimate purpose and attempted to obstruct the parliament's right to vote on ending martial law. Despite the presence of armed troops, lawmakers managed to enter the assembly hall and demanded the end of the emergency decree with a unanimous vote. The assembly then placed Yoon under impeachment, suspending his presidential powers, and the Constitutional Court is now deliberating to determine whether to formally oust Yoon from office or reinstate him. Yoon has steadfastly maintained that his actions were intended to issue a warning to the opposition-controlled parliament for obstructing his agenda, rather than to disrupt its work. The Corruption Investigation Bureau conducted an investigation into Yoon together with police and military authorities and arrested him last week.
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