Ruling from the Constitutional Court of South Korea

South Korea's Anti-Corruption Agency Recommends Indictment of President Yoon for Insurrection, Abuse of Power

Jan 23, 2025, 04:22 AM

South Korea's anti-corruption agency has recommended that prosecutors indict impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of insurrection and abuse of power. The charges stem from Yoon's short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, which lasted approximately six hours before being overturned by the National Assembly. Yoon allegedly conspired with military officials to disrupt constitutional order and deployed troops to block parliamentary proceedings. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which lacks prosecutorial authority, transferred the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office after a 51-day investigation. Yoon, who was arrested on January 15, 2025, at his residential compound, has refused to cooperate with investigators. The prosecutors have 11 days to decide whether to file formal charges. Yoon's impeachment trial, initiated in December 2024, is ongoing at the Constitutional Court, which will determine whether he is permanently removed from office or reinstated. If convicted of insurrection, Yoon could face life imprisonment or the death penalty. Following Yoon's suspension, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is serving as acting president.