The President of South Korea has been banned from leaving the country.

The Ministry of Justice of South Korea has imposed a travel ban on President Yoon Suk-yeol, as reported by the news agency "NewTimes.kz" referencing the "Yonhap" agency.

The decision was made following a request from the head of the corruption investigation office for high-ranking officials, who approached the ministry in relation to a rebellion case. The president is also accused of treason and abuse of power. Law enforcement agencies do not rule out the possibility of questioning him.

It is worth noting that the investigation was triggered by Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of a state of emergency on December 3 under the pretext of combating domestic supporters of North Korea. As part of this decree, the activities of political parties were suspended, protests and strikes were banned, censorship was imposed, and military field tribunals with the authority to issue death sentences were established. However, the decree lasted only six hours: members of the National Assembly voted for its repeal despite attempts by the military to storm the parliament. Following this, the president was forced to retract his decision, which led to widespread criticism and the resignation of key officials, including Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun.

Also read: Kazakhstan and South Korea have canceled defense minister talks

On December 7, the South Korean parliament put the question of the president's impeachment to a vote. However, due to a boycott by members of the ruling "People Power" party, there were not enough votes to reach a decision. This left Yoon Suk-yeol in the presidential office but heightened political tension in the country.

Kazakhstanis have been urged to refrain from participating in mass events in South Korea.

On December 4, Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev commented on the situation regarding Kazakhstanis in South Korea and the measures being taken to protect their rights.

It is worth recalling that in June 2023, Yoon Suk-yeol was on his first state visit to Kazakhstan, where he held talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana. Tokayev described this visit as a historic event, emphasizing that the negotiations would significantly enhance Kazakh-Korean integration and elevate bilateral relations to a new level.

At that time, Tokayev highlighted that South Korea holds an important place in the global economy and technology, and its well-known corporations bolster the country's status as a key global player. Kazakhstan and Korea have achieved a high level of cooperation, including political dialogue, economic partnership, and humanitarian ties.