SEOUL, South Korea (BN24) — South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk-yeol has been indicted on new charges as the special prosecutor’s office deepens its investigation into last year’s controversial martial law declaration, which plunged the country into a constitutional crisis.
Prosecutor Park Ji-young confirmed Saturday that Yoon faces multiple charges, including abuse of power, obstruction of official duties, and falsifying government documents related to his unlawful imposition of martial law in December. Yoon, Park said, failed to convene the required full cabinet meeting before enacting the declaration and later submitted a fabricated document claiming support from the prime minister and defense minister.
Yoon has denied all charges.
The former president sparked national outrage and international condemnation when he ordered troops into South Korea’s National Assembly in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from rejecting his martial law decree. He was forcibly removed from office in January following weeks of defiance, during which he used presidential security forces to delay his arrest.
Though briefly released in March on procedural grounds, Yoon was rearrested last week after a new warrant was issued amid fears he would tamper with evidence. On Friday, he appeared in court seeking to have the arrest warrant lifted. His legal team argued that his limited mobility made it unlikely he would interfere with the investigation. The court rejected the appeal.
Yoon is already facing charges of leading an attempted rebellion, one of the gravest crimes under South Korean law, punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty. His trial on that charge is ongoing.
As the investigation expands, political tensions remain high. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Seoul and other cities on Saturday, voicing discontent with the government of President Lee Jae-myung, who took power in a snap election after Yoon’s ouster in June.
Many citizens accuse the new administration of failing to address the demands for transparency and justice that followed Yoon’s removal.
