[South Korean Prosecutors Indict Suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol on Charges of Insurrection
South Korean prosecutors have indicted suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of insurrection in connection with his brief declaration of martial law in early December. Yoon, who is currently in custody, is the first sitting president in South Korean history to be indicted.
According to prosecutors, Yoon justified the declaration by accusing the main opposition party of sympathizing with North Korea and engaging in anti-state activities, but his actions were swiftly overturned by parliament. Yoon has denied any wrongdoing and has been in custody since his arrest last week.
The charges were announced on Sunday evening, and prosecutors claim that “sufficient evidence exists to substantiate the charges.” During parliamentary hearings, Yoon’s commanders testified that they received direct orders to break down the doors of parliament to “drag out” lawmakers, which Yoon has denied.
Prosecutors also revealed that Yoon allegedly told the first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service to “arrest” a list of 14 political and legal figures, including the opposition leader, and “clean everything up.” The move is the latest development in a political saga sparked by Yoon’s declaration of martial law.
Yoon’s party has dismissed the indictment, calling the investigation records “illegal,” while his lawyers claim that Yoon’s declaration of martial law does not amount to an insurrection crime. Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party has welcomed the indictment and urged the court to hold Yoon “accountable for his violations of constitutional order and his trampling on democracy.”
If convicted, Yoon could face life in prison or the death penalty, although South Korea has not executed anyone in decades. Yoon is also facing a separate trial over his impeachment case, with a decision expected by spring.
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