S. Korean opposition calls for ‘swift’ removal of impeachment-accused Yoon as he defies prosecutors’ summons

South KoreaThe opposition leader on Sunday urged a top court to quickly formalize the indictment of the president Yoon Suk Yeol and alleviate the “sufferings of the people” after his brief decree of martial law.

Lawmakers voted Saturday to remove Yoon from office for his “insurrectionary” suspension of civilian rule, which plunged South Korea into one of the worst political unrest in years.

Yoon has been suspended while South Korea’s Constitutional Court deliberates, with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo acting in the interim.

The court has 180 days to rule on Yoon’s future.

But opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Sunday urged judges to “quickly” remove Yoon from office.

“This is the only way to minimize national unrest and alleviate the suffering of the people,” he said.

“To hold those responsible for this absurd situation to account and prevent it from happening again, it is essential to uncover the truth and demand accountability.”

An investigation into Yoon’s entourage over the past week martial law The statement also rumbled.

On Sunday, prosecutors said they were seeking an arrest warrant for the head of the military’s Special Operations Command, Kwak Jong-keun, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Kwak is accused of sending special forces troops to the country’s parliament when the martial law proposal failed – sparking a dramatic confrontation between soldiers and parliamentary staff.

Investigators also said they summoned Yoon for questioning over allegations of insurrection.

“We asked him to appear for questioning at 10 a.m. (01:00 GMT), but he refused to comply,” the prosecution said in a statement.

“We will issue a second summons,” they said without giving details.

And on Saturday, police arrested Yeo In-hyung, head of the defense counterintelligence command, on charges including insurrection.

“Resilience of democracy”

The South Korean government, for its part, has sought to give the impression that things are business as usual.

Acting President Han holds telephone conversation with US President on Sunday Joe Bidenwhich underlined the strength of bilateral ties.

The United States is a key treaty ally Seoul‘s, stationing approximately 28,000 troops in South Korea.

The White House said in a statement that Biden expressed “confidence that the Alliance will remain the pillar of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region during Acting President Han’s tenure.”

“President Biden expressed his appreciation for the resilience of democracy and the rule of law in the Republic of Korea,” said the White House said.

Han also ordered the army to “strengthen its vigilance” against North Koreawith which the South technically remains at war.

North Korea has yet to publicly comment on Yoon’s removal.

Large protests for and against Yoon have rocked the South Korean capital since martial law was declared on Dec. 3.

Protesters from both sides vowed to keep up the pressure campaign as the Constitutional Court considers Yoon’s fate.

“I will definitely protest to the court to ask it to reject the impeachment procedure,” Cho Hee-sun, a Yoon supporter, told AFP at a rally on Saturday before the parliamentary vote.

Seoul police estimated that at least 200,000 people gathered outside Parliament in support of the president’s impeachment.

(AFP)