Suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, under impeachment proceedings since his abortive declaration of martial law, was indicted on Sunday for leading an “insurrection” and remains in detention.
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The prosecutors in charge of the investigation announced in a press release that they had “indicted Yoon Suk Yeol (…) on the accusation of being the leader of an insurrection”.
Mr. Yoon plunged South Korea into political chaos by attempting, on December 3, to decree martial law, a measure which lasted only six hours before being rejected by the deputies, who managed to meet in emergency in Parliament. He was suspended soon after, and on January 15, he became the first sitting South Korean head of state to be arrested.
This arrest came after several weeks of detention in his residence, where his bodyguards had resisted attempts at his incarceration. Mr. Yoon is now in the Seoul Detention Center.
He has refused to cooperate with the criminal investigation into his declaration of martial law, with his lawyers arguing that investigators have no legal authority.
His formal detention charge means he will now be kept behind bars until his trial, which is due to take place within six months.
His indictment was widely expected after a court twice rejected prosecutors’ requests to extend his arrest warrant while the investigation continued.
“After a thorough review of the evidence obtained during the investigation, prosecutors concluded that it was entirely appropriate to charge the defendant,” they added in their statement.
The need to keep Mr. Yoon behind bars was justified by a “continued risk of destruction of evidence,” they further indicated.
-The charge of leading an insurrection is not covered by presidential immunity, they stressed.
“Incorrect information”
The opposition welcomed this indictment.
“We must arrest not only those who plotted to carry out an illegal insurrection, but also those who instigated it by spreading misinformation,” said Han Min-soo, a member of parliament.
Without providing evidence, Mr. Yoon and his legal team cited alleged electoral fraud and legislative gridlock in the opposition-controlled parliament to justify the declaration of martial law.
Mr. Yoon promised to “fight to the end,” attracting the support of his supporters who adopted the “Stop the steal” rhetoric, borrowed from Donald Trump voters, convinced that their leader was cheated in the American presidential election which he lost in 2020.
“This indictment will bring a sense of relief, reaffirming that the constitutional order is functioning as it should,” said Bae Kang-hoon, co-founder of political think tank Valid.
Mr. Yoon also faces a series of hearings by the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether to uphold his indictment and formally strip him of the presidency.
If the Court rules against him, he will lose the presidency and an election will be held within 60 days.
Mr. Yoon remains South Korea’s head of state for the moment despite his detention.
