Yoon Suk-yeol Appears in Court as Rebellion Charges Loom

• South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol appears in court for a preliminary hearing on rebellion charges.
• Yoon faces potential life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted of orchestrating an unlawful martial law.
• South Korea’s Constitutional Court is nearing a decision on his impeachment trial.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, facing allegations of attempting to orchestrate a rebellion when he briefly declared martial law in December.

The hearing at Seoul Central District Court, held under tight security as his supporters rallied nearby, focused on witness discussions and trial preparations.

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The court is also reviewing a request from Yoon’s lawyers to cancel his arrest and secure his release.

Yoon was arrested on January 15 after a weeklong standoff at his residence—the first time a sitting South Korean president has faced such action.

His televised declaration of martial law on December 3, citing threats from North Korea and “antistate elements,” sparked mass protests before lawmakers swiftly voted to overturn the decree within six hours.

Prosecutors indicted Yoon on January 26, accusing him of illegally attempting to dissolve the National Assembly and detain political leaders and election officials.

While South Korean presidents typically have immunity, exceptions exist for charges of rebellion or treason, which could lead to life imprisonment or even the death penalty if he is convicted.

Several top officials, including Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and National Police Chief Cho Ji-ho, have also been arrested and charged with rebellion, abuse of power, and other offences linked to the martial law order.

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The fallout has thrown South Korea into political upheaval. On December 14, the National Assembly impeached Yoon, suspending his presidential powers.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is nearing a verdict on whether to permanently remove him from office or reinstate him.

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