SOUTH KOREAN opposition parties introduced a Bill today calling for an independent probe into impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief martial law declaration.

Large rival rallies of his supporters and opponents continue to be held near his official residence, ahead of his potential detention.

The Bill, jointly submitted by six parties, including the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, proposes that a special prosecutor investigate whether President Yoon’s martial law decree on December 3 constituted an attempted rebellion.

It also calls for an investigation into opposition claims that Mr Yoon sought to provoke a clash with North Korea by allegedly flying drones over Pyongyang and discussing the possibility of shooting down rubbish-laden balloons launched from North Korea, to justify a power grab at home. 

President Yoon’s lawyers and the South Korean military have denied this.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, leading a joint investigation with police and the military, has pledged to work with police to make a more forceful effort to detain Yoon. 

It has warned that members of the presidential security staff could be arrested if they obstruct attempts to apprehend the embattled president.

But a lawyer for President Yoon, Seok Dong Hyeon, claimed further attempts to detain Mr Yoon would “provoke a significant backlash from outraged citizens,” creating a “civil war situation.”