South Korea’s President Yoon indicted for insurrection
South Korean prosecutors have indicted the impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of leading an insurrection over his short-lived imposition of martial law, the main opposition party said.
Mr Yoon’s lawyers criticised the indictment as the “worst choice” made by the prosecution service, while the main opposition party welcomed the decision.
“The prosecution has decided to indict Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing charges of being a ringleader of insurrection,” Democratic Party spokesman Han Min-soo told a press conference.
“The punishment of the ringleader of insurrection now begins finally.”
The charges are unprecedented for a South Korean president, and if convicted, Mr Yoon could face years in prison for his martial law decree, which sought to ban political and parliamentary activity and control the media.
Mr Yoon stunned South Koreans when he suddenly declared martial law in early December, a decision that was lifted by the country’s parliament within hours.
His move set off a wave of political upheaval in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, with the prime minister also impeached and suspended from power and a number of top military officials indicted for their roles in the alleged insurrection.
“(The) President’s declaration of emergency martial law was a desperate plea to the public over a national crisis caused by the opposition getting out of control,” Mr Yoon’s lawyers said in a statement.
The prosecutors’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Anti-corruption investigators last week recommended charging the jailed Mr Yoon, who was impeached by parliament and suspended from his duties on December 14.
Under criminal investigation, Mr Yoon has been in solitary confinement since January 15 after becoming the first sitting president to be arrested.
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Over the weekend a court twice refused the prosecutors’ request to extend his detention while they conducted further investigation, but with the charges they have again requested that he be kept in custody, media reports said.
Insurrection is one of the few criminal charges from which a South Korean president does not have immunity.
It is punishable by life imprisonment or death, although South Korea has not executed anyone in decades.
Top court to determine fate
Mr Yoon and his lawyers argued at a Constitutional Court hearing last week that he never intended to fully impose martial law but had only meant the measures as a warning to break political deadlock.
In parallel with his criminal process, the top court will determine whether to remove Mr Yoon from office or reinstate his presidential powers.
They have 180 days to decide.
South Korea’s opposition-led parliament impeached Mr Yoon on December 14, making him the second conservative president to be impeached in the country.
Mr Yoon rescinded his martial law after about six hours after lawmakers from the main opposition party, confronting soldiers in parliament, voted down the decree.
During the dramatic confrontation, soldiers with rifles, body armour and night-vision equipment were seen entering the parliament building through smashed windows.
If Yoon is removed from office, a presidential election will be held within 60 days.
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