Letter from Seoul - 20

Highlights of South Korea martial law fallout for Monday, December 9, 2024

- South Korea arrests ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun after a failed martial law attempt. Kim, who resigned earlier this week, appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office at about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday. He faces an immediate travel ban, which suggests he surrendered his passport.

- Later on Sunday, Interior Minister Lee Sang-min resigned. Both Lee and embattled President Yoon are under investigation for alleged insurrection following the declaration of martial law.

- The national police are also investigating claims of treason against Yoon and other top ministers.

- A vote to impeach Yoon failed Saturday evening when all members of his political party walked out of the National Assembly. The next impeachment vote against Yoon will take place this upcoming Saturday. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, has vowed to hold a vote every Saturday until Yoon is impeached.

- In a public address given by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and the ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon, the two said they would cooperate in operational matters related to "national governance."

They did not announce when any such transition would take place. Han Dong-hoon said they plan to map out the president's "orderly resignation," but did not elaborate on how their decision would correspond with the Constitution.

"President Yoon will not be involved in handling state affairs, including foreign policy, even before his resignation," Han Dong-hoon said in the joint public address.

Sources: The Guardian, The Korea Herald and Yonhap News Service

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