South Korea’s Prosecutors Indict Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Insurrection Charges
Seoul – South Korea’s prosecutors have indicted impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of leading an insurrection with his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3. Yoon’s lawyers have criticized the indictment as the “worst choice” made by the prosecution service, while the main opposition party welcomed the decision.
The charges are unprecedented for a South Korean president, and if convicted, Yoon could face years in prison for his shock martial law decree, which sought to ban political and parliamentary activity and control the media. Yoon’s move set off a wave of political upheaval in Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a top US ally, with the prime minister also impeached and suspended from power and a number of top military officials indicted for their roles in the alleged insurrection.
Yoon’s lawyers argued that the president never intended to fully impose martial law but had only meant the measures as a warning to break a political deadlock. However, prosecutors have charged him with being the ringleader of insurrection, which is punishable by life imprisonment or death.
The indictment was made after anti-corruption investigators recommended charging Yoon, who was impeached by parliament and suspended from his duties on December 14. Yoon has been in solitary confinement since becoming the first sitting president to be arrested on January 15.
The punishment of the ringleader of insurrection now begins finally, said Democratic Party spokesman Han Min-soo. Yoon and his lawyers have argued that he never intended to fully impose martial law but had only meant the measures as a warning to break a political deadlock.
In parallel with the criminal process, the top court will determine whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate his presidential powers. If Yoon is removed from office, a presidential election will be held within 60 days.