South Korea's prosecutors indict President Yoon for insurrection

South Korea's main opposition party has stated that prosecutors have formally indicted impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, accusing him of leading a rebellion aimed at implementing martial law. The opposition party believes Yoon's brief imposition of martial law constituted a rebellion, and they have filed a lawsuit against him.

Yoon's lawyers criticized the prosecution's indictment as "the worst possible choice," while the main opposition party welcomed the decision. Democratic Party spokesperson Han Min-soo stated at a press conference, "The prosecution has decided to indict Yoon Suk-yeol, who faces charges of rebellion; the punishment for the leader of the rebellion is now finally beginning."

These charges are unprecedented for a South Korean president. If convicted, Yoon could face years in prison for his martial law order, which aimed to ban political and parliamentary activities and control the media. Yoon suddenly declared martial law in early December, a decision that shocked the South Korean public and was rescinded by the National Assembly within hours. This move triggered political turmoil in Asia's fourth-largest economy, with the prime minister also being impeached and suspended, and multiple senior military officials also being indicted for alleged involvement in the rebellion.

Yoon's lawyers stated in a statement, "The president's declaration of an emergency martial law order was a desperate appeal to a national crisis caused by the opposition's out-of-control behavior." The prosecutor's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Anti-corruption investigators recommended indicting the imprisoned Yoon last week, who was impeached and suspended by the National Assembly on December 14. Yoon has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest on January 15, becoming the first sitting president to be arrested. The court rejected prosecutors' requests to extend his detention twice over the weekend, but with the charges filed, they are again requesting his detention.

Rebellion is one of the few criminal charges for which a South Korean president does not enjoy immunity and can be punishable by life imprisonment or death, although South Korea has not carried out the death penalty for decades. Yoon and his lawyers argued at a Constitutional Court hearing last week that he never intended to fully implement martial law, but rather used the measures as a warning to break a political deadlock. Parallel to the criminal proceedings, the Supreme Court will decide whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate his presidential powers, and they have 180 days to make a decision. South Korea's opposition-led parliament impeached Yoon on December 14, making him the country's second conservative president to be impeached.

Yoon rescinded the martial law order approximately six hours later after a standoff between members of the main opposition party and soldiers in the parliament. In the dramatic confrontation, soldiers carrying rifles, wearing bulletproof vests and night-vision equipment could be seen entering the parliament building through smashed windows. If Yoon is removed from office, a presidential election will be held within 60 days.