The South Korean Prosecutor’s Office has presented a firm accusation against President Yoon Suk-yeol for an alleged crime of insurrection due to his application of martial law on December 3. The indictment, which is the first for a president in office in the history of South Korea, comes one day before the detention period decreed for the president to be interrogated by the authorities expires.
The president – now relieved of his duties – is accused of allegedly leading an insurrection and abusing his power over the declaration of martial law. The approval of this measure was carried out after accusing the opposition of developing “anti-state activities” linked to North Korea.
Yoon faces accusations of conspiracy with former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun for mobilizing military forces towards the National Assembly. This measure was intended to prevent legislators from revoking the decree, something that finally happened that same night.
The president’s directive opened a policy crisis that continued with the president’s arrest on January 15, 43 days after the alleged insurrection. His arrest was carried out after his prolonged effort to remain barricaded in his residence in Seoul, and after the president agreed to appear before the anti-corruption office that is investigating him.
Yoon, who has remained detained since then, has been charged at the request of the Office for the Investigation of Cases of Corruption of Senior Officials (CIO), the body leading the criminal investigation into the president for having briefly decreed martial law.
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