South Korean president accused of ordering use of guns to stop martial law vote | Global News Avenue

South Korea’s suspended president asked the military to use guns and tried to oust lawmakers from parliament as it voted to reject martial law, prosecutors said.

On December 3, according to the indictment filed against Yun during the impeachment proceedings, Yoon authorized soldiers to “break down the door and drag them (politicians) out, even if it meant shooting.”

The orders were said to have been given to a general accused of blockading the National Assembly during Yoon’s brief declaration of martial law, which was vetoed by lawmakers after 190 people were able to enter the Capitol.

Yoon’s cabinet later revoked his decree, and lawmakers subsequently voted to impeach him.

South Korea’s impeachment proceedings mean Yoon has been suspended from office and the Constitutional Court will decide whether to confirm his impeachment. If so, he would be permanently removed from office.

His decision to declare military rule – which he claimed at the time was to counter “anti-national forces” in parliament – was seen by some as an attempt to break the political deadlock that has characterized the opposition’s landslide victory in April.

After he announced the decree in a late-night speech, opposition lawmakers and protesters gathered at the National Assembly but were met by police and military personnel who cordoned off the building.

when members of parliament able to force entryProsecutors said Yoon told Capital Defense Command Commander Lee Jin-woo that the military could shoot at the National Assembly if necessary.

Yoon allegedly told General Lee: “Tell (your troops) to go to the voting room, four (lawmakers) each and execute them.”

“What are you doing? Tear down the door and drag him out.”

After members of Congress voted to lift martial law, Yoon told General Lee to “keep going” because he could declare martial law multiple times, the indictment said.

Prosecutors said evidence for the indictment came from former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who was also indicted on Friday for allegedly telling General Ri multiple times on Dec. 3 to obey Yoon’s orders.

He also allegedly ordered commanders to use military-prepared cable ties, blindfolds, ropes, baseball bats and hammers to occupy the National Electoral Commission building and arrest its employees.

Investigators said in a news release that Kim will remain in custody while awaiting trial.

Martial law plunged South Korea into weeks of political turmoil.

Opposition politicians immediately called Yoon’s statement illegal and unconstitutional. The leader of his own party – the conservative People’s Power party – also called out Yoon’s behavior “Wrong move.”

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was also indicted on Friday, according to the Special Investigation Headquarters set up by South Korea’s prosecutors.

On the same day, Congress also vote to impeach Acting President Han Deok-soo.

Han is expected to lead the country out of political instability, but opposition lawmakers argue he refuses to complete Yoon’s impeachment proceedings.

He has agreed to resign, meaning the country’s Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will become acting president.

Thousands of protesters held rallies in South Korea, some calling for Yoon’s arrest.

Kwon Chung-hee told the BBC while participating in a protest in Seoul on Saturday that South Korea’s impeachment case felt like climbing “a hill”.

“But there were too many mountains to climb, so I couldn’t just stay home — I came out with the mindset of protecting the country,” she said.

Political uncertainty is also causing the economy to suffer.

The yuan has fallen to its lowest level against the dollar since the global financial crisis 16 years ago.