South Korean opposition threatens to isolate Han due to martial law, by Reuters

By Hyunhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s main opposition party threatened on Monday to impeach acting President Han Dak-soo if he fails to announce a law to launch a special investigation into President Yeon Suk-yul’s failed attempt to impose martial law.

Prime Minister Han took office from the suspended Leon, who was impeached on December 14 and faces Constitutional Court review on whether to be impeached.

With a majority in parliament, the opposition Democratic Party passed a bill this month to appoint a special investigator to pursue sedition charges, among others, against Governor Yoon and investigate his wife over a luxury handbag scandal and other allegations.

The party, which accused Han of helping Yoon impose martial law and reported him to police, said it would “immediately initiate impeachment proceedings” against the acting president if the legislation was not passed by Tuesday.

“The delays show that the prime minister has no intention of abiding by the constitution and is an admission that he is acting as an agent of the rebels,” Democratic Party leader Park Chan-dae said at a party meeting. yon.

Han is a technocrat who has held leadership roles in South Korean politics for 30 years under both conservative and liberal presidents. Yoon appointed him prime minister in 2022.

Han’s office could not immediately be reached for comment. He had previously said he tried to prevent Yoon from declaring martial law, but apologized for failing to do so.

She also accused Park Yoon of obstructing the Constitutional Court trial by repeatedly refusing to accept court documents.

“Any delay in the investigation and impeachment trials is an extension of the rebellion and an act of planning a second rebellion,” Park said.

A joint investigation team including the police and the Corruption Investigation Bureau of Senior Officials made a second attempt to summon Yoon for questioning on December 25, although it was not clear whether he would attend.

Woo Jong-soo, head of investigation at the National Police Agency, told parliament on Monday that police tried to raid Yoon’s office twice but were denied entry by the Presidential Security Service. Wu said his team sent a request to preserve evidence, including a secure phone server.