South Korea's prosecution has indicted President Yoon Suk-yeol on insurrection charges, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday. This marks the first time an incumbent president has been formally arrested and indicted in the country's history.
President Yoon was taken into custody and put on trial as the suspected ringleader of an insurrection. He is accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who has already been indicted and detained, to declare an unconstitutional and illegal martial law and dispatch armed forces into the National Assembly.
After receiving Yoon's case from the anti-corruption agency, the prosecution requested an extension of his arrest twice for further investigation. However, the Seoul Central District Court repeatedly rejected these requests, aiming to bring Yoon to trial as swiftly as possible.
On January 19, another Seoul court issued a warrant to keep President Yoon in custody for up to 20 days, including the arrest period. Yoon was apprehended at the presidential office on January 15.
A motion to impeach President Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on December 14 last year and was delivered to the constitutional court for deliberation, which can take up to 180 days. During this period, Yoon's presidential powers are suspended.
The controversy began when President Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of December 3. The National Assembly revoked the martial law hours later, citing it as unconstitutional and illegal.
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South Korean prosecutors indict Yoon over insurrection charge
cgtn.com
