South Korea imposes first-ever travel ban on sitting president

The South Korean Justice Ministry has imposed a travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol.

"The travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol has been in effect since around 3:30 [GMT+9] on December 9," said an official from the ministry overseeing immigration issues. This marks the first time a travel ban has been imposed on a sitting president, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Earlier, the head of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Unit for high-ranking officials announced that he had instructed authorities to request the imposition of a travel ban on Yoon Suk Yeol. The investigation into Yoon's actions is related to suspicions of involvement in a rebellion. South Korean law allows for the criminal prosecution of a sitting president on charges of rebellion and treason. 

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit for High-Ranking Officials of the Republic of Korea was considering imposing a travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol. The unit has issued the relevant instructions.

“The ban has not been implemented yet. I have instructed the investigators,” said a senior official.

The investigation into President Yoon follows the situation surrounding the imposition and further lifting of martial law, which has prompted both the police and the prosecution to begin their own inquiries into the matter.

By Naila Huseynova