South Korean police investigating president for ‘insurrection’

South Korean police have launched a probe targeting President Yoon Suk Yeol, after he briefly imposed martial law, a senior officer has announced.

The head of the National Police Agency’s investigation headquarters, Woo Jong-soo, told South Korean lawmakers that “the case has been assigned” against Yoon, AFP news agency reported on Thursday.

According to Woo, the president is suspected of “insurrection.”

The crisis in South Korea erupted on Tuesday when Yoon delivered a surprise televised address declaring emergency martial law, on the grounds that the opposition – which he accused of being sympathetic towards the North – had been preparing a “rebellion.”

Within hours, 190 lawmakers, who managed to access the National Assembly despite military cordons, voted unanimously to lift the decree. Thousands of people took to the streets to condemn the president’s actions.

Early on Wednesday, Yoon said he had decided to reverse his decision to impose martial law. Later that day, the opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, filed a motion to impeach the head of state.