Official announcement from the South Korean judicial system

South Korean Court Denies Detention Extension as Prosecutors Seek to Indict President Yoon for Insurrection

Jan 24, 2025, 01:13 PM

South Korea's anti-corruption agency has recommended that prosecutors indict President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of insurrection, abuse of power, and obstruction of parliament over his short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3. Yoon was impeached and suspended from power on December 14 and has been detained since last week. The agency transferred the case to the prosecutors' office, and investigators are requesting Yoon's indictment. President Yoon attended the fourth hearing of his impeachment trial, with key witness testimonies beginning, including that of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who defended the martial law declaration. Prosecutors requested an extension of Yoon's detention period until February 6, but the Seoul Central District Court rejected the request on January 24, citing a lack of probable cause to continue the investigation. The prosecution refiled the motion to extend Yoon's detention four hours after the initial denial. If the extension is denied again, prosecutors must decide by January 26 whether to indict or release him.