Official announcement from the Constitutional Court of South Korea

South Korean Investigators Recommend Indictment of Impeached President Yoon for Insurrection and Abuse of Power Over Martial Law

Jan 23, 2025, 07:59 AM

South Korean investigators have recommended that President Yoon Suk Yeol be charged with insurrection and abuse of power following his short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has transferred the case to prosecutors for indictment, marking Yoon as the first sitting president to be arrested in South Korea's history. Yoon, who was impeached and suspended from power on December 14, has been incarcerated since January 15 pending the investigation. The CIO's decision comes amid a political crisis that has affected South Korea's economy and raised concerns about its political stability among allies, including the U.S. Lee Jae-seung, the CIO's deputy chief, cited Yoon's refusal to cooperate with the investigation, noting that military officials have provided testimonies about Yoon allegedly trying to arrest politicians and mentioning a second martial law order. Yoon's lawyers have argued that the CIO has no authority to handle the case and that any criminal investigation should follow the Constitutional Court's decision on his impeachment. The Constitutional Court is currently deliberating whether to uphold or dismiss Yoon's impeachment, with a decision expected within 180 days from December 14. Additionally, Yoon's former defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, has been charged with insurrection.