South Korea's prosecutors have indicted President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges of insurrection, marking the first time an incumbent president has been formally arrested and indicted in the country's history.
Yoon was apprehended at the presidential office on January 15 and has been held in custody since. He is accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who has already been indicted and detained, to declare an unconstitutional martial law and deploy armed forces to the National Assembly.
The prosecution received Yoon's case from the anti-corruption agency and twice requested to extend his arrest for supplementary investigation. However, the Seoul Central District Court rejected these requests to expedite bringing Yoon to trial.
On January 19, another Seoul court issued a warrant to keep Yoon in custody for up to 20 days, including the arrest period. The motion to impeach Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on December 14 last year and forwarded to the constitutional court for deliberation, a process that can take up to 180 days. During this period, Yoon's presidential powers are suspended.
The charges stem from events on the night of December 3, when Yoon declared an emergency martial law. The National Assembly revoked the martial law hours later, deeming it unconstitutional and illegal.
The unprecedented indictment has plunged South Korea into a political crisis, raising concerns about the stability of the nation's democratic institutions. Observers are closely watching how the situation unfolds as the constitutional court deliberates on the impeachment motion.
Kim Yong-hyun, the former Defense Minister implicated alongside Yoon, was accused of participating in the alleged conspiracy to undermine the democratic process by orchestrating the declaration of martial law and the mobilization of military forces against the legislative branch.
As the nation awaits the court's decision, discussions about the balance of power, constitutional law, and the role of military influence in politics have intensified. The outcome of this case is expected to have significant implications for South Korea's political landscape and governance.
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South Korean prosecutors indict Yoon over insurrection charge
cgtn.com
