South Korean prosecutors have indicted the impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of leading a rebellion following his brief imposition of martial law last month, according to reports from the country’s opposition party and various South Korean media outlets.
Yoon, a conservative leader, enjoys presidential immunity from most criminal prosecutions; however, this privilege does not cover charges of rebellion or treason. According to South Korean law, a leader involved in a rebellion could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Democratic Party spokesperson Han Min-soo stated at a press conference, “The prosecution has decided to indict Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing charges of being the ringleader of insurrection. The punishment for the ringleader of insurrection now begins finally,” as reported by Reuters.
This announcement marks Yoon as the first sitting South Korean president to face an indictment and criminal investigation, as noted by the Washington Post.
Yoon became the second conservative president to be impeached in South Korea when the opposition-led parliament voted to suspend his duties on December 14.
IMPEACHED SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT DETAINED WEEKS AFTER MARTIAL LAW CHAOS
Earlier this month, he was arrested following his December 3, 2024, martial law decree, which plunged Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a key U.S. ally into political chaos. Yoon has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that his martial law declaration was a legitimate governance act intended to highlight the dangers posed by the liberal-controlled National Assembly, which obstructed his agenda and impeached several top officials.
In his martial law declaration, Yoon described the assembly as “a den of criminals” and committed to eliminating “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces.”
Despite his actions, enough lawmakers entered the assembly chamber to unanimously vote against Yoon’s decree, compelling his Cabinet to revoke it.
Although Yoon rescinded the decree after just six hours, this martial law imposition was the first in South Korea in over 40 years, recalling painful memories of past dictatorial regimes from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Yoon faced significant resistance from investigative authorities regarding questioning or detainment. Following a standoff with his security detail, he was apprehended on January 15 during a large-scale law enforcement operation at his presidential residence, making him the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested. Since then, Yoon, a former prosecutor, has reportedly been held in solitary confinement, as per Reuters.
SOUTH KOREA’S IMPEACHED PRESIDENT AVOIDS ARREST ATTEMPT AFTER HOURSLONG STANDOFF
On January 19, a local court approved a formal arrest warrant to extend Yoon’s detention, prompting dozens of his supporters to storm the court building, causing damage and injuring 17 police officers. Authorities reported detaining 46 protesters during the incident.
Separately from criminal proceedings, the Constitutional Court is deliberating whether to formally dismiss Yoon as president or restore him to office.
The investigation into Yoon is being led by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials. However, since his detainment, he has refused to attend questioning by the CIO, claiming it lacks legal authority to investigate rebellion allegations. The CIO maintains it can pursue the rebellion charge given its connection to his alleged abuse of power.
The CIO recently forwarded Yoon’s case to the Seoul prosecutors’ office and requested an indictment on charges of rebellion, abuse of power, and obstruction of the National Assembly.
In a statement, Yoon’s defense team urged prosecutors to release him immediately and to investigate the CIO’s actions.
South Korean media, including Yonhap news agency, reported on Sunday that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office has indicted Yoon on rebellion charges.
Yoon’s defense minister, police chief, and several military commanders have already faced arrest for their involvement in the martial law decree.
