Official statements from South Korean authorities or news outlets

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Indicted for Insurrection While Under Detention

Jan 26, 2025, 10:13 AM

South Korean prosecutors have indicted President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of leading an insurrection tied to his December 3 martial law declaration. Yoon, who was impeached and detained earlier this month, is accused of conspiring with then Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to deploy military forces to parliament in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from overturning the decree. This marks the first time a sitting South Korean president has been indicted while under detention. The martial law decree, which lasted only six hours before being overturned by lawmakers, sparked significant political turmoil in the country. The indictment follows a recommendation by anti-corruption investigators and comes just a day before Yoon's detention period was set to end on January 28. Yoon's detention began on January 15, and he attended the fourth hearing of his impeachment trial on January 23. A Seoul court had previously rejected prosecutors' requests to extend his detention. If the Constitutional Court upholds Yoon's impeachment, a presidential election must be held within 60 days.