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South Korea's Justice Ministry bans president from leaving country

This is the first time such a ban has been imposed on a sitting president
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Kim Hong-Ji/ Pool Photo via AP
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol
© Kim Hong-Ji/ Pool Photo via AP

SEOUL, December 9. /TASS/. The South Korean Justice Ministry has banned President Yoon Suk Yeol from leaving the country, the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper reported.

"The travel ban against President Yoon Suk Yeol has been in effect since about 3:30 p.m. on December 9," the newspaper quoted an official in charge of migration issues as saying.

This is the first time such a ban has been imposed on a sitting president. Earlier, the head of South Korea's anti-corruption watchdog for high-ranking officials said he had ordered a travel ban for Yoon Suk Yeol. The South Korean president's actions are being investigated in connection with suspected rebellion.

South Korean law allows for the prosecution of a sitting president on charges of rebellion and treason.

On the evening of December 3, Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law to combat "pro-North Korean elements" and the paralysis of the executive branch caused by the actions of the parliamentary opposition. Martial law was lifted about six hours later. The opposition initiated impeachment proceedings in the National Assembly on December 4, saying that the president had violated the constitution because there was no basis for martial law.

On December 7, the South Korean parliament voted to impeach the president. The impeachment was not announced because the ruling party boycotted the vote. Before the vote, Yoon Suk Yeol apologized to his fellow citizens and said that he had entrusted state affairs, including the issue of his term, to the ruling party and the government.