Yoon Suk Yeol has been in custody since becoming the first sitting president to be arrested on January 15
26 January 2025 - 15:40
byHyunsu Yim
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South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the fourth hearing of his impeachment trial over his short-lived imposition of martial law at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, on January 23 2025. Picture: JEON HEON-KYUN/POOL via REUTERS
Seoul — South Korea’s prosecutors indicted President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday on charges of leading an insurrection with his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3, the main opposition party said.
“The prosecution has decided to indict Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing charges of being a ringleader of insurrection,” Democratic Party spokesperson Han Min-soo told a press conference. “The punishment of the ringleader of insurrection now begins finally.”
The indictment was also reported by South Korean media.
Anti-corruption investigators last week recommended charging the jailed Yoon, who was impeached by parliament and suspended from his duties over the incident.
Yoon’s lawyers had urged the prosecutors to immediately release the him from what they call illegal custody.
Under criminal investigation, he has been in custody since becoming the first sitting president to be arrested on January 15.
Insurrection is one of the few criminal charges from which a South Korean president does not have immunity. It is punishable by life imprisonment or death, though South Korea has not executed anyone in decades.
Yoon and his lawyers argued at a Constitutional Court hearing last week in his impeachment trial that he never intended to fully impose martial law but had only meant the measures as a warning to break political deadlock.
In parallel with his criminal process, the top court will determine whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate his presidential powers, with 180 days to decide.
South Korea’s opposition-led parliament impeached Yoon on December 14, making him the second conservative president to be impeached in the country.
Yoon rescinded his martial law after about six hours after legislators from the main opposition party, confronting soldiers in parliament, voted down the decree.
Soldiers, equipped with rifles, body armour and night-vision equipment, were seen entering the parliament building through smashed windows during the dramatic confrontation.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
South Korea president indicted for insurrection
Yoon Suk Yeol has been in custody since becoming the first sitting president to be arrested on January 15
Seoul — South Korea’s prosecutors indicted President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday on charges of leading an insurrection with his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3, the main opposition party said.
“The prosecution has decided to indict Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing charges of being a ringleader of insurrection,” Democratic Party spokesperson Han Min-soo told a press conference. “The punishment of the ringleader of insurrection now begins finally.”
The indictment was also reported by South Korean media.
Anti-corruption investigators last week recommended charging the jailed Yoon, who was impeached by parliament and suspended from his duties over the incident.
Yoon’s lawyers had urged the prosecutors to immediately release the him from what they call illegal custody.
Under criminal investigation, he has been in custody since becoming the first sitting president to be arrested on January 15.
Insurrection is one of the few criminal charges from which a South Korean president does not have immunity. It is punishable by life imprisonment or death, though South Korea has not executed anyone in decades.
Yoon and his lawyers argued at a Constitutional Court hearing last week in his impeachment trial that he never intended to fully impose martial law but had only meant the measures as a warning to break political deadlock.
In parallel with his criminal process, the top court will determine whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate his presidential powers, with 180 days to decide.
South Korea’s opposition-led parliament impeached Yoon on December 14, making him the second conservative president to be impeached in the country.
Yoon rescinded his martial law after about six hours after legislators from the main opposition party, confronting soldiers in parliament, voted down the decree.
Soldiers, equipped with rifles, body armour and night-vision equipment, were seen entering the parliament building through smashed windows during the dramatic confrontation.
Reuters
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