South Korea Prosecutors Charge Impeached President Yoon For Insurrection Over Martial Law
The crime of insurrection can lead to life imprisonment or even death, although the country hasn’t carried out any executions in decades.
South Korean prosecutors have charged impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol with leading an insurrection following his brief imposition of martial law on December 3.
In a statement on Sunday, prosecutors announced that Yoon Suk Yeol had been “indicted with detention on charges of being the ringleader of an insurrection.”
“After a comprehensive review of evidence obtained during investigations, the [prosecutors] concluded that it was only appropriate to indict the defendant,” the statement said.
The crime of insurrection can lead to life imprisonment or even death, although the country hasn’t carried out any executions in decades. This charge is significant because, as president, Yoon would normally have immunity from prosecution, but insurrection is one of the few exceptions, Al Jazeera reports.
The charges stem from Yoon’s decision to impose martial law on December 3, which sparked widespread outrage and led to his impeachment by parliament on December 14.
Yoon’s lawyers argue that he never intended to fully enforce martial law, but rather used it as a warning to break a political stalemate.
Yoon has been in custody since January 15, when he became the first sitting president to be arrested. His lawyers have called for his immediate release, claiming that his detention is illegal.
The Constitutional Court will ultimately decide whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate his presidential powers.
South Korea’s opposition-led parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14, 2024, making him the second conservative president in the country’s history to face impeachment.
This move came after Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024, which was met with fierce resistance from lawmakers and citizens alike.
In a dramatic turn of events, legislators from the main opposition party confronted soldiers in parliament and voted down the decree, prompting Yoon to rescind the martial law after just six hours.
