SOUTH KOREA’S liberal-led parliament passed Bills today to launch special investigations into former president Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived imposition of martial law in December and criminal allegations against his wife.

This decision came a day after the ousted right-wing leader was replaced by Democrat Lee Jae Myung.

The Bills had previously been vetoed by Yoon and South Korea’s caretaker government after his December 14 impeachment over the martial law debacle.

They are expected to be signed by President Lee, who won Tuesday’s snap election triggered by Mr Yoon’s formal removal from office in April.

Many members of the conservative People Power Party refused to participate in the votes, which took place after one of the party’s lawmakers accused the liberals in a speech of being driven by vendetta.

President Lee pinned his presidential campaign on unity, promising not to target rightwingers and calling for an end to political polarisation.

He has vowed a full investigation, however, into Mr Yoon’s imposition of martial law and the allegations surrounding his wife, who has faced accusations of corruption.

Mr Yoon also faces a high-stakes rebellion trial carrying a possible death sentence. He denies all the allegations against him and has denounced his wife’s legal troubles as baseless political attacks.