Official Charges Filed Against South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol
World
On January 26, 2025, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was formally charged with attempting to incite an insurrection by declaring a limited martial law in violation of the Constitution. He is accused of conspiring with his former Defense Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, to declare a state of emergency without signs of war or national crisis, with the aim of taking full control of the country.
President Yoon has become the first sitting president in South Korea's history to be detained and indicted under such charges.
According to the investigation, Yoon attempted to send military forces to parliament to block lawmakers from rejecting the martial law declaration. He is also accused of planning to arrest important political figures, including National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and the leaders of rival parties.
Yoon was detained on January 15 by the Corruption Investigation Office and officially arrested on January 19. By January 26, prosecutors determined that an indictment for insurrection was appropriate.
The investigation team stated they were unable to personally question Yoon, and the charges were limited to insurrection, as the law excludes charges such as abuse of power against a sitting president.
The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to decide whether to remove or reinstate President Yoon.
The president's office and the ruling party have denounced the charges as illegal, calling the court's decision politically and legally unclear. Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party has urged President Yoon to fully participate in the trial proceedings.
According to the investigation, Yoon attempted to send military forces to parliament to block lawmakers from rejecting the martial law declaration. He is also accused of planning to arrest important political figures, including National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and the leaders of rival parties.
Yoon was detained on January 15 by the Corruption Investigation Office and officially arrested on January 19. By January 26, prosecutors determined that an indictment for insurrection was appropriate.
The investigation team stated they were unable to personally question Yoon, and the charges were limited to insurrection, as the law excludes charges such as abuse of power against a sitting president.
The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to decide whether to remove or reinstate President Yoon.
The president's office and the ruling party have denounced the charges as illegal, calling the court's decision politically and legally unclear. Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party has urged President Yoon to fully participate in the trial proceedings.
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