Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives for questioning at the Seoul High Prosecutor’s Office on June 28, 2025. — Reuters
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been indicted on charges of abuse of power related to his martial law declaration last year, as investigators deepen their examination of a suspected insurrection.
Yoon sparked a political crisis in South Korea when he attempted to undermine civilian governance by deploying troops to parliament on December 3, aiming to prevent lawmakers from rejecting his martial law declaration.
In January, he became the first serving president in South Korea’s history to be arrested after evading capture for several weeks, using his presidential security to resist authorities.
He was released in March on procedural grounds while his trial on insurrection charges continued.
Just last week, he was taken into custody again following the issuance of an arrest warrant due to concerns that he might tamper with evidence.
Prosecutor Park Ji-young announced on Saturday, “We have indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of official duties.”
Park pointed out that Yoon failed to adhere to the necessary protocols for declaring martial law, which required a meeting with his entire cabinet.
Additionally, Yoon faces charges for creating a falsified document claiming that both the prime minister and the defense minister had approved the martial law.
Although Yoon has not participated in questioning since his arrest, he did appear in court on Friday to contest the warrant against him.
His legal team reported that he defended himself for over 30 minutes, citing “limited mobility and the difficulties he is experiencing.”
The court ultimately denied his request.
As temperatures rise in South Korea, Yoon is being held in solitary confinement in a cell equipped with only a fan and no air conditioning.
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, accused of inciting rebellion through his martial law declaration, arrives for his trial at the Seoul Central District Court, May 12, 2025. — Reuters
Yoon departs from the PPP to support Kim Moon-soo and defend the Republic of Korea
Violence erupts at pro-Yoon rallies; four supporters sentenced to jail
Kim draws attention for refusing to apologize over the suspension of civilian rule
On Saturday, South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol announced via Facebook that he is leaving the conservative People Power Party (PPP).
The timing of this decision comes as the PPP’s presidential candidate struggles against the liberal Democratic Party’s candidate, Lee Jae-myung, in the polls ahead of the snap election on June 3.
A recent Gallup Korea poll shows Kim Moon-soo, the PPP candidate, garnering around 29% support, while frontrunner Lee holds a significant 51% of the vote.
Yoon’s unexpected martial law declaration last December, which led to his impeachment and removal, ignited the need for this quick election. Party members had urged him to step away from the party to appeal to more moderate voters who view his actions unfavorably.
“I am departing from the People Power Party to uphold my responsibility in defending the free Republic of Korea… I urge you to support Kim Moon-soo,” Yoon stated in his post, referencing South Korea’s official name.
The first televised debate between candidates Lee and Kim is scheduled for Sunday.
Yoon’s martial law declaration was intended to address legislative stalemate and to eliminate what he termed pro-North Korean “anti-state” elements, gaining backing from extreme religious groups and right-leaning YouTubers.
Pro-Yoon rallies turned violent in January when radical supporters, incensed by the court’s endorsement of his formal arrest warrant, stormed a courthouse in Seoul, resulting in four individuals receiving prison sentences this week.
Yoon has been accused of indirectly inciting this violence, having previously warned his hardline followers in early January that the nation was “in peril” and pledged to stand with them “to the very end.”
Yoon emphasized that the forthcoming snap election represents a “final opportunity to avert a totalitarian dictatorship and protect liberal democracy and the rule of law.”
The most recent Gallup poll indicates that Lee, who is currently facing multiple criminal trials, leads with 51% support, outpacing Kim with 29%.
Kim gained prominence as the only cabinet member who didn’t apologize for the failure to prevent Yoon’s temporary suspension of civilian rule. However, he did extend an apology for Yoon’s martial law attempt earlier this week, expressing heartfelt regrets for those suffering due to it.
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol greets his supporters while leaving the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, on April 11, 2025. —Reuters
SEOUL: In a courtroom appearance on Monday, ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol defended his controversial martial law declaration from late last year, asserting that it was “not a coup d’état.” He is facing a criminal trial for allegedly inciting an insurrection.
The martial law declaration lasted only about six hours before Yoon abandoned the plan under pressure from lawmakers and public protests. This incident has led to months of instability and ultimately resulted in the Constitutional Court’s decision to remove him from office for violating constitutional powers.
After departing his residence in a motorcade, Yoon entered the Seoul Central District Court clad in a dark navy suit and a red tie. He has consistently denied all charges against him.
During the trial proceedings, prosecutors argued that Yoon lacked the legal basis to impose martial law, claiming he intended to immobilize state institutions, including parliament. “The defendant rendered it impossible for constitutional organizations to perform their duties based on an unlawful order,” stated the prosecution.
Yoon, who previously served as the nation’s chief prosecutor, took the stand and vigorously countered the prosecutors’ claims. “Martial law does not equate to a coup d’état,” he contended.
He argued that the rules were necessary to inform the public about the opposition party’s attempts to hinder governance by impeaching over 20 officials, an action he deemed perilous. “This was merely a peaceful ‘message martial law’ to the nation… I anticipated this martial law would last no more than half a day to a day,” Yoon remarked.
Although he stated that he had communicated his intentions to former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, Yoon alleged that military personnel misinterpreted the orders, possibly due to their previous training protocols.
Charges of Insurrection
Two senior military officers testified later that day. They claimed that a superior officer ordered them to deploy troops to forcibly remove lawmakers from parliament during Yoon’s martial law order. Yoon refuted this claim, denying that he issued such commands.
The martial law declaration, which aimed to eliminate what Yoon described as “anti-state” elements, was rescinded when parliamentary staff used barricades and fire extinguishers to stop special operations soldiers from entering the building, where lawmakers voted against the martial law measure.
The serious charge of masterminding an insurrection, faced by the impeached leader, could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty, though no executions have occurred in South Korea for many years.
Yoon’s declaration on December 3 shocked the nation and created turmoil across various sectors, including society, the economy, and foreign policy, according to the Constitutional Court’s ruling for his ousting.
The upheaval has further highlighted the significant social divides between conservatives and liberals and has led to increased scrutiny on institutions and the military, which found itself in a dilemma regarding the enforcement of martial law.
The former president returned home on Friday after his term, greeted by throngs of conservative supporters as his motorcade passed by. Yoon has relocated back with his wife and pets to their apartment situated just a short distance from the Seoul court, where he previously achieved notable legal victories, including the conviction of another impeached president, Park Geun-hye.
Despite the ongoing legal challenges, he remains resolute and has promised to support his followers. Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party criticized him on Monday for being out of touch and failing to issue a genuine apology.
South Korea is set to hold a snap election on June 3, raising questions about whether Yoon will still have a political role to play.
Protesters gather outside Yoon Suk Yeol’s residence, waiting for the Constitutional Court’s decision regarding his impeachment, on April 4, 2025, in Seoul, South Korea. — Reuters
Acting President Han Duck-soo will serve until a new election is held.
The court dismissed claims that martial law was enacted as a warning.
Yoon is also facing a criminal trial on insurrection charges.
SEOUL: The Constitutional Court of South Korea voted on Friday to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, validating parliament’s impeachment motion linked to his imposition of martial law last year—a decision that triggered the nation’s most significant political crisis in decades.
This ruling brings to a close several months of political instability that have complicated responses to the new U.S. administration under President Donald Trump while the fourth-largest economy in Asia grapples with slowing growth.
Following Yoon’s impeachment, the constitution mandates that a presidential election be held within 60 days.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will serve as acting president until the new leader is sworn in.
“The unanimous decision by the Constitutional Court eliminates a significant source of uncertainty,” stated Professor Leif-Eric Easley from Ewha University in Seoul. “And this clarity is timely as the forthcoming administration will need to address North Korea’s military threats, China’s diplomatic pressures, and the trade tariffs introduced by Trump.”
Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae indicated that Yoon failed in his presidential duties with the decree for martial law issued on December 3, asserting that he acted outside his constitutional authority, which posed “a serious challenge to democracy.”
“(Yoon) has profoundly betrayed the trust of the people, who are the sovereign entities of this democratic republic,” Moon pronounced, adding that the martial law proclamation incited chaos across every sector of society—economically, socially, and in terms of foreign relations.
Upon hearing the ruling, thousands gathered at a rally advocating for Yoon’s removal erupted in cheers, chanting “We won!”
In contrast, Yoon’s supporters gathered near his official residence expressed their anger, with one protestor reportedly being arrested for vandalizing a police bus, according to Yonhap news agency.
Despite the ruling, the South Korean won remained largely unaffected, trading about 1% higher against the dollar at 1,436.6 per dollar as of 0249 GMT. The KOSPI benchmark index dipped by 0.7%, consistent with expectations that the court would uphold the impeachment.
Rejected Claims
The court dismissed most of Yoon’s argument that his martial law declaration was meant to sound the alarm about the opposition party’s misuse of its parliamentary power, asserting that there were legitimate means to address such concerns.
Moon emphasized that the decree lacked both justification and proper procedure, stating that using military force against the parliament to disrupt its duties was a severe breach of Yoon’s constitutional obligation to protect the independence of the three governmental branches.
Kwon Young-se, the interim leader of Yoon’s ruling People Power Party, issued an apology to the public, stating that the party accepts the court’s decision with humility and commits to cooperating with the acting president to stabilize the nation.
Speaking after the ruling, Acting President Han Duck-soo pledged to take all necessary steps to guarantee a smooth and orderly presidential election process.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is expected to hold an emergency meeting with the Bank of Korea governor and financial regulators.
The 64-year-old Yoon faces a separate criminal trial concerning insurrection charges related to his martial law declaration. He became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested on January 15 but was released in March after a court annulled his arrest warrant.
The ongoing crisis was instigated by Yoon’s martial law declaration, which he claimed was essential to eradicate “anti-state” elements and counter the opposition Democratic Party’s alleged misuse of its parliamentary majority, which he argued was endangering the nation.
Yoon rescinded the decree six hours later after parliamentary personnel utilized barricades and fire extinguishers to fend off special operations soldiers arriving by helicopter who attempted to enter the building and broke windows. Yoon argued he never intended to fully implement emergency military control and attempted to minimize the incident’s fallout by stating that no one was harmed.
