South Korea investigates President Yoon Suk Yeol amid martial law crisis

South Korean police have launched an investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol on potential insurrection charges following his declaration of martial law, a move that has thrown the nation into political turmoil. Woo Jong-soo, head of the National Investigation Headquarters at the National Police Agency, confirmed during a parliamentary session that the case is under investigation.

Yoon's decision to impose martial law on Tuesday, which includes banning political activities and censoring the media, has ignited widespread outrage both within South Korea and internationally. The martial law was intended to curb growing unrest, but it led to a dramatic standoff when armed military troops attempted to enter the National Assembly building in Seoul. The confrontation only de-escalated when parliamentary aides, armed with fire extinguishers, forced the soldiers to retreat.

In response to the chaos, opposition lawmakers from the Democratic Party have announced plans to vote on President Yoon's impeachment this week. They argue that the martial law declaration has caused widespread confusion and fear among South Koreans. "The Yoon Suk Yeol regime’s declaration of emergency martial law caused great confusion and fear among our people," said Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won during an early morning session in the National Assembly.

For the impeachment motion to pass, at least eight members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) must support the bill to secure a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament. However, the PPP largely opposes impeachment, with key figures expressing their support for Yoon as he faces one of the most significant challenges of his presidency.

In an effort to stabilize the situation, Yoon has accepted the resignation of Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who had advised the martial law declaration and ordered the troop deployment to parliament. The vice-defense minister, Kim Seon-ho, who was not informed about the decision, later expressed regret for not preventing the military intervention. "I have fundamentally opposed the mobilization of military forces under martial law and have expressed negative opinions about it," Kim Seon-ho said at a parliamentary hearing on Thursday.

The martial law debacle has also drawn sharp reactions from international allies. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concern that the United States was not notified in advance of the martial law declaration. Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell criticized Yoon for "badly misjudging" the situation.