Indicted for Insurrection: Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol Faces Severe Charges
South Korean prosecutors have indicted impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on rebellion charges linked to his recent imposition of martial law, which occurred on December 3, 2024. The indictment, which could result in life imprisonment or even death if Yoon is convicted, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political crisis, according to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.
Yoon's martial law decree, criticized as alarming by many and likened to past dictatorial practices, was quickly overturned by the National Assembly, which unanimously voted against it. In his defense, Yoon insists that the martial law was a necessary measure to draw attention to threats posed by the liberal-controlled legislature, referring to assembly members as “criminals,” as reported by South Korean media outlets including Yonhap.
The Constitutional Court is currently deliberating whether to formally dismiss Yoon or reinstate him, further complicating the political landscape in South Korea. Yoon has denied all wrongdoing and claims that the military presence aimed to ensure order during the assembly’s deliberations.
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