South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been barred from leaving the country days after he briefly imposed martial law.
Yoon’s martial law declaration almost plunged the country into chaos as special forces and helicopters were dispatched to parliament on December 3 after which he was compelled to rescind the order after his decree was rejected.
The nation’s leader survived an impeachment motion in parliament on Saturday as crowds defied the cold temperature calling for his removal.
While he remains in office, Yoon is now the subject of investigations, with his close allies also being probed for alleged insurrection.
On Monday, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that Yoon is now the first sitting South Korean president to be banned from leaving the country.
When asked at a parliamentary hearing on Monday if the president had been banned from leaving South Korea, Bae Sang-up, an immigration services commissioner at the ministry replied: “Yes, that’s right.”
Also included in the travel ban for their roles in last week’s occurrence are former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun — currently in detention — and ex-interior minister Lee Sang-min.
Additionally, the officer in charge of the martial law operation, General Park An-su and defence counterintelligence commander Yeo In-hyung are also barred from leaving the country.