South Korean president investigated for insurrection over martial law

South Korea's ruling party says it will block a move by the opposition to impeach the beleaguered president, Yoon Suk Yeol, as police said they were investigating Yoon for alleged insurrection over his botched attempt to impose martial law.

- Raphael Rashid

The floor leader of the People Power party vowed yesterday that its MPs would "unite" to defeat the opposition-led motion to impeach the deeply unpopular leader.

"All 108 lawmakers of the People Power party will stay united to reject the president's impeachment," Choo Kyung-ho told a livestreamed party meeting.

Opposition MPs need eight ruling party lawmakers to vote with them for the impeachment bill to pass. The opposition says the vote is expected tomorrow.

Yoon now faces multiple investigations, after South Korea's prosecutor general yesterday ordered prosecutors to directly investigate the president and other key officials for alleged insurrection over the martial law declaration. Police are conducting a separate parallel investigation.

Both agencies will investigate Yoon, former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, and martial law commander Park An-su, among others. Prosecutors have already imposed a travel ban on Kim, who resigned as defence minister over his involvement in Tuesday's martial law order. South Korean presidents do not have immunity from the crime of insurrection, which can carry the death penalty.

Separately, prosecutors have imposed a travel ban on Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned as defence minister over his involvement in Tuesday's martial law order. Opposition MPs have accused Kim of attempting to flee the country, a claim that Kim reportedly dismissed as "political agitation".

Both the prosecutors' office and the high-ranking corruption investigation office are reviewing whether they have authority to directly investigate the insurrection allegations or must transfer the cases to police.