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South Korean ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol arrested again
Impeached South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested again, amid his criminal trial over his December martial law declaration. An arrest warrant for Yoon was issued by Seoul’s Central District Court earlier this week, having been sought by special counsel Cho Eun-suk. Judges cited the risk that Yoon could destroy evidence in his ongoing trial on insurrection charges. Yoon was set to appear in court on Thursday and be questioned by Cho’s team today, but was absent. “Former President Yoon submitted a reason for absence citing health reasons,” said assistant special counsel Park Ji-young. The special counsel may bring Yoon in for questioning by force under the Criminal Procedure Code if his absence is not explained, according to Park. Yoon’s arrest warrant alleges he refused to include certain cabinet members in the meeting he held before declaring martial law, falsified documents about the declaration after it was made, and ordered the Presidential Security Service to block his arrest in January. He may also pose a flight risk, Cho’s team wrote. He is currently being held at a detention centre in Uiwang, south of Seoul. Yoon can be detained for up to 20 days, which could expand to six months if he is indic
South Korea
South Korean election begins after martial law turmoil
South Koreans will vote in a snap presidential election today, following months of political turmoil that begun when then-President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law in December. The election’s major candidates are centre-left Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party. Lee led the final polls by 49.2% to Kim’s 36.8%, per Yonhap. “Your vote can change history and protect our democracy,” said Lee at a press conference yesterday. “Voting, the ultimate weapon of those who hold sovereignty, is the most powerful weapon to end insurrection.” Yoon imposed martial law in December after an investigation was opened into his wife Kim Keon-hee and four allied officials, with the country’s National Assembly overturning the declaration hours later. Yoon was then impeached, with the Constitutional Court unanimously upholding his removal from office in April and a criminal trial on insurrection charges beginning later that month. A snap election was called after Yoon’s impeachment, as South Korea requires new elections to be held within 60 days of the presidency becoming vacant. Lee led the Democratic Party from 2022 to 2025, including losing a presidential election to Yoon i
South Korea
South Korean ex-president Yoon's criminal trial begins
Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s criminal trial began today, after being removed from office due to his December martial law declaration. Yoon has been charged with leading an insurrection. He was impeached shortly after instating martial law, and was removed by the country’s Constitutional Court on 4 April. “Martial law is not a coup d’etat,” Yoon said in this morning's hearing. “This was a peaceful ‘message martial law’ to the nation.” The hearing began at the Seoul Central District Court at 10 am local time. Photos and video will not be permitted during the hearing today, the court said, and Yoon entered through an underground parking area to avoid public view. “The decision to allow Yoon, who is accused as the ringleader of an insurrection, to use the underground parking lot for court entry lacks justification and legitimacy,” said opposition Democratic Party spokesperson Lee Geon-tae. If Yoon is convicted, he may face a life sentence or the death penalty. An initial verdict is expected around August. The first preliminary hearing in Yoon’s criminal trial took place in February, after being detained in January. He was released from detention in March. Yoon declared martial law in December a
South Korea
South Korean court strikes down PM's impeachment
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has struck down the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, with President Yoon Suk Yeol’s case also due in the coming days, after the two were suspended from office following Yoon’s declaration of martial law. Yoon briefly instated martial law in December after an investigation was opened into his wife Kim Keon-hee and four allied officials, and was impeached 11 days later. Han, who took over as acting president, was impeached later that month after vetoing bills to investigate Yoon and Kim, and blocking Constitutional Court appointments. “It cannot be determined that Prime Minister Han’s violation of the law constitutes a betrayal of the people’s trust indirectly granted through the President, who has the power to appoint him,” the court said in a statement. Seven of the court's eight justices voted to overturn Han's impeachment, with five saying that he had not violated South Korea's constitution. Han is now set to be reinstated as acting president. The court has yet to announce a projected date for a ruling on Yoon’s impeachment. The court heard final arguments in Yoon’s case on 25 February. Yoon has also been indicted on insurrection charges. He was detained for almost two
South Korea
Yoon Suk Yeol is detained by South Korean authorities
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) arrested South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday. The arrest follows his controversial declaration of martial law in December. To justify his position, he alleged that the liberal opposition controlled parliament and sympathised with North Korea. As a result of the declaration, he was impeached and accused of insurrection and abuse of power. In a tense standoff at Yoon's residence, hundreds of police officers and anti-corruption investigators participated in the arrest.Credit: VoiceOfSeoul, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsDetention of a sitting South Korean leader is unprecedented. It was a chaotic scene as Yoon's supporters clashed with authorities. While Yoon's legal team claimed that the arrest warrant was illegal, he eventually agreed to cooperate in order to prevent further violence. "To prevent an unfortunate and violent incident, I decided to appear before the CIO even though I believe the investigation is illegal," Yoon said in a video message recorded at his residence in Yongsan, central Seoul, as reported by Yonhap News Agency. A significant impact on stability and governance has resulted from this unprecedented event in South Ko