Martial Law Fiasco: South Korea Bans Own President From Travelling Abroad, Says Report

Police in South Korea have imposed an overseas travel ban of country's President Yoon Suk Yeol, a huge decision taken just as prosecutors mull insurrection charges against him over martial law he tried to impose. CNN has reported that South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office has confirmed that such a ban has been imposed on the president. Even if the president has survived impeachment in a vote in the country's parliament, his political future appears uncertain given anger against him among lawmakers.

Yoon's own People's Power Party (PPP) has already announced that it will demand his resignation. The party has also made a demand of suspending the president from duties.

President Yoon surprised South Koreans as well as the world by announcing martial law in the country in a televised address on December 3. The subsequent effects of his announcement led to mobilisation of troops who were deployed at the nation's parliament and attempted to obstruct the proceedings.

Some of the lawmakers even clashed with the soldiers. Eventually, they were able to hold a plenary session by locking the doors from inside and pass motion against imposition of martial law.

The military emergency declared by the president lasted for six hours and Yoon had to apologise to the nation while declaring lifting of the emergency.

Special Forces Commander Apologises

On Monday, Col. Kim Hyun-tae, commander of the special forces soldiers who clashed with lawmakers apologised to the nation.

The colonel, who ordered the special task force to storm the country's parliament called himself an "incompetent and irresponsible commander"

"I ordered the deployment to the National Assembly. As the on-site commander for the 197 troops involved, I was the first to arrive by a helicopter. I instructed them to seal the building, engage in physical confrontations at the front and rear gates, break windows, and enter the premises," said Kim as quoted by CNN.

"If such orders had been given in combat, everyone would have died," he added. He called these troops "the most tragic victims of this situation," he added.

"These troops are the most tragic victims of this situation. They are not guilty. Their only fault lies in following the orders of an incompetent commander. Please forgive them," he said further.