The police, the Ministry of Defense's investigation unit, and the authority that investigates corruption among high-ranking officials are conducting a joint investigation and want to summon Yoon for questioning on Wednesday. According to their request, reported by the Korean news agency Yonhap, Yoon is suspected of being the leader of a coup attempt.
Shocked
Yoon shocked the country and the world by declaring a state of emergency with accompanying martial law on December 3. He had to back down just a few hours later after the parliament voted against it.
On Saturday, the country's parliament, with a majority of more than two-thirds, voted to bring the president to trial. He was immediately suspended from his duties. In the meantime, the prime minister is performing the president's duties.
Now, the country's constitutional court is carrying out its part of the process. It has 180 days to reach a decision on whether the president should be reinstated or removed from office. In two previous impeachment trials against presidents, it took two and three months, respectively, to reach a decision.
Party leader resigns
The party leader of the ruling party PPP, the party to which the suspended president belongs, announced on Monday that he is leaving his post.
He Dong-Hoon had already demanded, just days after the state of emergency, that the president should leave the party and the presidency. But a majority in the party had been against it – and also against bringing Yoon to trial.
