Embattled South Korean President Yoon Faces Insurrection Charges, Potential Life Sentence.
In a dramatic turn of events, South Korea’s prosecutors have decided to indict the country’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of leading an insurrection. This comes in the wake of Yoon’s short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3, which has landed him in legal jeopardy.
Democratic Party spokesman Han Min-soo announced the prosecution’s decision, stating, “The prosecution has decided to indict Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing charges of being a ringleader of insurrection.”
The punishment for such charges can be as severe as life imprisonment or even the death penalty, although South Korea has not executed anyone in decades.
Notably, the charge of insurrection is one of the few criminal offenses for which a sitting South Korean president does not enjoy immunity. This paves the way for Yoon’s prosecution, despite his position of power.
Yoon has been in custody since January 15, making him the first sitting president in South Korea to be arrested. His lawyers have argued that he never intended to fully impose martial law but rather meant the measures as a warning to break the political deadlock.
In parallel with the criminal process, Yoon’s impeachment trial is ongoing at the Constitutional Court. The court has 180 days to decide whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate his presidential powers.
The opposition-led parliament had impeached Yoon on December 14, making him the second conservative president to be impeached in the country.
The events leading to Yoon’s indictment were marked by a dramatic confrontation in the parliament, where soldiers equipped with rifles, body armor, and night-vision equipment were seen entering the building through smashed windows. This incident occurred after legislators from the main opposition party voted down Yoon’s martial law decree.
