South Korea's Justice Ministry imposes a travel ban on President Yoon over martial law

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s Justice Ministry on Monday imposed an overseas travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol as authorities investigate allegations of rebellion and other charges in connection with his short-lived declaration of martial law last week.

Yoon’s martial law decree on Dec. 3, which brought special forces troops onto Seoul's streets, plunged South Korea into political turmoil and caused worry among its key diplomatic partners and neighbors. On Saturday, Yoon avoided an opposition-led bid to impeach him, with most governing party lawmakers boycotting a parliamentary vote.

But opposition parties vowed to submit a new impeachment motion against him this week.

Bae Sang-up, a Justice Ministry official, told a parliamentary hearing that it banned Yoon from leaving the country following requests by police, prosecutors and an anti-corruption agency as they expand their investigations into the circumstances surrounding Yoon’s power grab.

On Monday, a senior National Police Agency officer told local reporters in a background briefing that police can also detain Yoon if conditions are met. The contents of the briefing were shared with The Associated Press.

While a sitting South Korean president has immunity from prosecution while in office, that doesn't extend to allegations of rebellion or treason. This means that Yoon can be questioned and detained by police over his martial law decree, but many observers doubt that police will forcefully detain him because of the potential for clashes with his presidential security service. They also say the security service won’t likely permit searches of Yoon’s office, citing a law that prohibits searches on sites with state secrets without approval from those in charge of those areas.

In the case of former President Park Geun-hye, who was thrown out of office in 2017 after being impeached by parliament over a corruption scandal, prosecutors failed to search her office and ended up receiving documents outside the compound because presidential officials turned them away.

After refusing to meet with prosecutors while in office, Park underwent questioning by them and was arrested after the Constitutional Court approved her impeachment and ruled to dismiss her as president in March 2017.

The main opposition Democratic Party called Yoon’s martial law imposition “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or a coup.” It has filed complaints with police against at least nine people, including Yoon and his former defense minister, over the rebellion allegations.

South Korean prosecutors on Sunday detained former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who allegedly recommended that Yoon declare martial law. He became the first person detained in the martial law case.

The Defense Ministry separately suspended three top military commanders last week over their alleged involvement in imposing martial law. They were among those facing the opposition-raised rebellion allegations.

On Saturday, Yoon issued an apology over the martial law decree, saying he won’t shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration. He said that he would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country’s political turmoil, “including matters related to my term in office.”

Since taking office in 2022 for a single five-year term, Yoon, a conservative, has been on a near-constant collision course with his liberal rivals who control parliament. The liberals have introduced motions seeking to impeach some of his top officials and launched a fierce political offensive against Yoon over a spate of scandals involving him and his wife.

In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a “den of criminals” bogging down state affairs, and vowed to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces.”

Yoon’s martial law decree lasted only six hours because the National Assembly voted it down, forcing Yoon’s Cabinet to lift it before daybreak on Wednesday. Some members of Yoon’s governing People Power Party, or PPP, cast ballots against Yoon’s decree, but the party later decided to oppose his impeachment.

Experts say Yoon’s party fears losing the presidency to liberals in a by-election if he is impeached and ousted, as they did after Park was removed from office. PPP's boycott of the vote is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon's impeachment.

PPP leader Han Dong-hun said Sunday that his party would push for Yoon’s early and orderly exit from office in a way that minimizes social confusion, but he didn’t say when that would happen. He also said Yoon won't be involved in state affairs, including foreign policy.

Critics say Han likely wants to buy time to help his party restore public confidence. His comments on sidelining Yoon from state affairs have also sparked widespread concern and criticism that it violates the constitution.

During a briefing on Monday, the Defense Ministry said that Yoon maintains control of the military, a power that the constitution explicitly reserves for the president.

A previous version of this story was corrected to show that the day of the impeachment vote was Saturday, not Sunday.

Participants march to the headquarters of the ruling People Power Party during a rally to demand South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahnn Young-joon)

Participants stage a rally to demand South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment in front of the headquarters of the ruling People Power Party, in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahnn Young-joon)

Participants tear a banner representing the flag of the ruling People Power Party during a rally to demand South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment in front of the headquarters of the ruling People Power Party, in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahnn Young-joon)

A caricature depicting South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is seen near the ruling People Power Party's head office in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. The letters read "Arrest." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions throw torn papers carrying the names of the ruling party's lawmakers who didn't vote at the impeachment motion last week, during a rally in front of the ruling People Power Party's head office in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Police officers stand guard in front of the ruling People Power Party's head office in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions throw torn papers carrying the names of the ruling party's lawmakers who didn't vote at the impeachment motion last week, during a rally in front of the ruling People Power Party's head office in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions shout slogans as they hold signs carrying the names of the ruling party's lawmakers who didn't vote at the impeachment motion last week, during a rally in front of the ruling People Power Party's head office in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions shout slogans as they hold signs carrying the names of the ruling party's lawmakers who didn't vote at the impeachment motion last week, during a rally in front of the ruling People Power Party's head office in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions shout slogans as they hold signs carrying the names of the ruling party's lawmakers who didn't vote at the impeachment motion last week, during a rally in front of the ruling People Power Party's head office in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A participant wearing a mask of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a rally demanding his impeachment outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024.The signs read "Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Participants shout slogans during a rally demanding South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. The signs read "Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Participants attend a rally demanding South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. The signs read "Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)