- South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, charged with insurrection after failed martial law attempt.
- Legal battle intensifies with Yoon’s refusal to cooperate and opposition protests escalating.
- Constitutional Court deliberates on Yoon’s potential reinstatement or formal dismissal.
South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has been charged with insurrection following his failed attempt to declare martial law in December, a move that sparked an unprecedented political crisis.
Yoon now becomes the first sitting South Korean president to face criminal charges.
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The indictment comes after a Seoul court rejected a request to extend Yoon’s detention, forcing prosecutors to decide whether to charge or release him before Monday.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Yoon’s legal team, who accused the prosecution of political bias, claiming they have become a tool of the Central Investigation Office (CIO).
In South Korea, insurrection carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty, though the latter is unlikely given the country’s long-standing moratorium on executions.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court has begun deliberations on whether to formally dismiss Yoon or reinstate him. The impeached president has largely refused to cooperate with investigations into his declaration of martial law.
Yoon is set to stand trial alongside his former defence minister and senior military officials, who are accused of aiding him in his attempt to seize total power.
On December 3, in a televised announcement, Yoon invoked martial law, claiming it was necessary to protect the country from “anti-state” forces sympathetic to North Korea.
The declaration led to the suspension of parliamentary activity and media controls, but lawmakers quickly rejected the move.
Within hours, 190 members of parliament voted unanimously against the martial law order, and soldiers were seen entering the National Assembly building. The military’s actions sparked a dramatic confrontation with civilians and lawmakers.
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Yoon was impeached and suspended from office on December 14, triggering South Korea’s worst political crisis in decades.
While some of his supporters have rallied in his defence, calling for his release and reinstatement, the country remains deeply divided.
If Yoon is permanently removed from office, a presidential election would take place within 60 days.
