Camille Naredo

This handout from the South Korean Presidential Office via Yonhap taken and released on December 14, 2024 shows President Yoon Suk Yeol giving a public address from his official residence in Seoul. Handout/South Korean Presidential Office via Yonhap/AFP/File

This handout from the South Korean Presidential Office via Yonhap taken and released on December 14, 2024 shows President Yoon Suk Yeol giving a public address from his official residence in Seoul. - Yoon on December 14 said he would "step aside" after parliament voted to remove him from office, urging an end to "politics of excess and confrontation". South Korean lawmakers on Saturday impeached Yoon over his failed martial law bid, with the opposition declaring a "victory of the people". (Photo by Handout / South Korean Presidential Office via Yonhap / AFP) / - South Korea OUT / - SOUTH KOREA OUT / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE VIA YONHAP" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Article (news)

SOUTH KOREA

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1737891097871AFP__20241214__36QB3BH__v2__Preview__TopshotSkoreaPoliticsUnrest.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="This handout from the South Korean Presidential Office via Yonhap taken and released on December 14, 2024 shows President Yoon Suk Yeol giving a public address from his official residence in Seoul. Handout/South Korean Presidential Office via Yonhap/AFP/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">This handout from the South Korean Presidential Office via Yonhap taken and released on December 14, 2024 shows President Yoon Suk Yeol giving a public address from his official residence in Seoul. <em>Handout/South Korean Presidential Office via Yonhap/AFP/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean prosecutors on Sunday indicted impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for being the &quot;ringleader of an insurrection&quot; after his abortive declaration of martial law, ordering the suspended leader to remain in detention.</p><p>Yoon plunged the country into political chaos with his December 3 bid to suspend civilian rule, a move which lasted just six hours before lawmakers defied armed soldiers in parliament to vote it down.</p><p>He was impeached soon after, and earlier this month became the first sitting South Korean head of state to be arrested.</p><p>That came after a weeks-long hold out at his residence where his elite personal security detail resisted attempts to detain him.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/21/south-korea-s-suspended-president-attends-impeachment-hearing-1415">READ: South Korea&#x27;s suspended president attends impeachment hearing</a></div><p>In a statement, prosecutors said they had &quot;indicted Yoon Suk Yeol with detention today on charges of being the ringleader of an insurrection&quot;.</p><p>He has been held at the Seoul Detention Center since his arrest, and the formal indictment with detention means he will now be kept behind bars until his trial, which must happen within six months.</p><p>The indictment was widely expected after a court twice rejected requests by prosecutors to extend his arrest warrant while their investigation proceeded.</p><p>&quot;After a comprehensive review of evidence obtained during investigations (prosecutors) concluded that it was only appropriate to indict the defendant,&quot; they said in a statement.</p><p>The need to keep Yoon behind bars was justified by a &quot;continued risk of evidence destruction&quot;, they said.</p><p>The specific charge -- being the ringleader of an insurrection -- is not covered by presidential immunity, they added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/20/mug-shot-solitary-cell-for-south-koreas-president-yoon-1345">READ: Mug shot, solitary cell for South Korea&#x27;s President Yoon</a></div><div><strong>- &#x27;Process of accountability&#x27; -</strong></div><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABTNy6X6hUC96n65&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script></div><p>The opposition hailed the indictment.</p><p>&quot;We need to hold not only those who schemed to carry out an illegal insurrection, but also those who instigated it by spreading misinformation,&quot; said lawmaker Han Min-soo.</p><p>Without providing evidence, Yoon and his legal team have pointed to purported election fraud and legislative gridlock at the opposition-controlled parliament as justification for his declaration of martial law.</p><p>Yoon has vowed to &quot;fight to the end&quot;, earning the support of supporters who have adopted the &quot;stop the steal&quot; rhetoric associated with US President Donald Trump.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/1/15/south-korea-s-six-weeks-of-political-chaos-1121">READ: South Korea&#x27;s six weeks of political chaos</a></div><p>&quot;This indictment will provide a sense of relief, reaffirming that the constitutional order is functioning as it should,&quot; said Bae Kang-hoon, co-founder of political think tank Valid.</p><p>Yoon also faces a series of Constitutional Court hearings, to decide whether to uphold his impeachment and strip him formally of the presidency.</p><p>If the court rules against Yoon, he will lose the presidency and an election will be called within 60 days.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABSntk8m5kYUjeEK&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script></div>

<p>South Korean prosecutors on Sunday indicted impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for being the "ringleader of an insurrection" after his abortive declaration of martial law, ordering the suspended leader to remain in detention.</p>

South Korean prosecutors on Sunday indicted impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for being the "ringleader of an insurrection" after his abortive declaration of martial law, ordering the suspended leader to remain in detention.

South Korean president indicted as 'ringleader of an insurrection'

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South Korean president indicted as 'ringleader of an insurrection'

Agence France-Presse,

Kang Jin-kyu

Published Jan 26, 2025 07:37 PM PHT

Read More:

South Korea

impeachment

martial law

Yoon Suk Yeol

indictment

Seoul

politics

insurrection

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