South Korea’s anti-corruption Investigators summon President Yoon Suk Yeol over martial law

Seoul: The South Korea’s anti-corruption investigation body on Thursday summoned President Yoon Suk Yeol to appear for questioning this weekend over his brief imposition of martial law.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) issued the summons ordering Yoon to appear at its office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, at 10 a.m. Sunday. This marked the CIO’s third summons after Yoon ignored two previous summonses, including one for questioning on Christmas Day.

The CIO has teamed up with the police and the defense ministry’s investigation unit to look into allegations Yoon incited an insurrection and abused his power when he declared martial law on December 3, Yonhap news agency reported.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon’s political future hangs in the balance as the Constitutional Court deliberates on his impeachment trial over his short-lived martial law declaration, raising concerns over a leadership vacuum amid economic and security challenges.

Yoon faces an uphill legal battle next year after being impeached and subjected to widening probes into his failed attempt to impose military rule on the nation’s democracy on December 3. The impeached president has defended his imposition of martial law as an act of governance and denied insurrection charges.

The allegations include insurrection and abuse of power for deploying military forces to the National Assembly to block lawmakers from repealing the decree.

The final decision on his impeachment rests with the Constitutional Court, where at least six of nine justices must uphold the motion to remove him. The process could take up to 180 days. (IANS)

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