Prosecutors file charges against President Yoon

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Lerato Khumalo

After martial law was declared

Prosecutors in South Korea indict President Yoon

Updated on January 26, 2025 – 1:45 p.mReading time: 1 min.

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Yoon Suk Yeol: The South Korean president is in custody. (Source: KIM HONG-JI/Pool Reuters/AP/dpa/dpa-bilder)

The declaration of martial law has further consequences for Yoon Suk Yeol. The suspended South Korean president faces conviction.

Prosecutors in South Korea have filed charges against suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol over the declaration of martial law last month. As the Yonhap news agency reported, the prosecutor’s office at the Central District Court in Seoul accused the riot against state power. The corruption investigation office CIO had previously called for this step.

Yoon’s lawyers, however, had demanded that Yoon be immediately released from what they considered to be illegal detention. They argued at a hearing before the Constitutional Court a few days ago that he never intended to impose full martial law. The measure was only intended as a warning to overcome the political deadlock.

Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested in January. The background is that the 64-year-old declared martial law on December 3rd. This triggered a national crisis. Parliament voted for his impeachment on December 14th. In parallel with the criminal proceedings, the Supreme Court will decide whether to remove Yoon from office or restore his presidential powers. You have a total of 180 days to do this.

Yoon lifted martial law after about six hours. MPs from the largest opposition party rejected the move. During the dramatic confrontation, soldiers with rifles, body armor and night vision goggles were seen entering the parliament building through smashed windows.