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CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
South Korea's ousted President Yoon indicted on additional criminal charges over martial law
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, centerm arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review his arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors in Seoul, South Korea Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP) SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted Saturday on additional criminal charges related to his ill-fated imposition of martial law, about three months after he was formally thrown out of office. Yoon's additional indictments mean he will remain in jail for up to six months as he faces a trial at the Seoul Central District Court on his Dec. 3 martial law declaration that plunged South Korea into huge political turmoil. Yoon was sent back to prison last week after the Seoul court approved his arrest warrant requested by a team of investigators headed by independent counsel Cho Eun-suk. Cho's team indicted Yoon on abuse of power that obstructed the rights of some of his Cabinet members. The charge was imposed because Yoon summoned only select Cabinet members to approve his emergency martial law when South Korean law requires approval of all Cabinet members for such a measure, Park Ji-young, a senior investigator at Cho's team, told a briefing. Park said Yoon was also charged with fabricating an official document in an attempt to satisfy a formal requirement for a martial law declaration before he eventually destroyed it. State prosecutors have already indicted Yoon on other criminal charges including masterminding a rebellion, a grave charge whose conviction carries only two sentences — capital punishment or life imprisonment. After declaring martial law, Yoon sent troops and police officers to the opposition-controlled National Assembly, but enough lawmakers managed to enter an assembly chamber and voted down his decree, forcing his Cabinet to lift it. Yoon was later impeached by the assembly, with some of his ruling party lawmakers also voting to suspend his presidential powers. Yoon has argued his decree was a desperate attempt to draw public support of his fight against the 'wickedness' of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, which had obstructed his agenda, impeached top officials and slashed the government's budget bill. He earlier called the National Assembly 'a den of criminals' and 'anti-state forces.' In January, Yoon was arrested by state prosecutors. But in March, he was released from prison after a judge at the Seoul district court canceled his arrest to allow him to stand trial without being held in custody. In April, the Constitutional Court formally dismissed Yoon as president, prompting a snap election to choose his successor. After winning that election, new President Lee Jae Myung, a former Democratic Party leader, approved legislation to launch independent investigations to uncover fuller details of Yoon's martial law stunt and delve into other criminal allegations involving his wife and administration. Lee named Cho an independent counsel to lead an investigation on Yoon's martial law decree. In May, state prosecutors indicted Yoon on charges of abusing power and forcing soldiers and police officers to try to seal the assembly and election offices, acts that are not part of their duties. Hyung-jin Kim, The Associated Press
CNA
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
South Korea's ex-president Yoon indicted for abuse of power
SEOUL: Disgraced South Korean ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted for abuse of power on Saturday (Jul 19) over his declaration of martial law last year, as investigators widened an insurrection probe. Yoon plunged South Korea into a political crisis when he sought to subvert civilian rule on Dec 3, sending troops to parliament in a bid to prevent lawmakers voting down his declaration of martial law. He became the first sitting president in the country to be taken into custody when he was detained in January after resisting arrest for weeks, using his presidential security detail to thwart investigators. He was released on procedural grounds in March, even as his trial on insurrection charges continued. Last week he was detained again after an arrest warrant was issued over concerns he might destroy evidence in the case. The prosecution "indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges including abuse of power and obstruction of special official duties", prosecutor Park Ji-young told reporters on Saturday. Park said Yoon also did not follow the required procedure to declare martial law, including holding a meeting with all cabinet members of the government. Yoon was also charged with "drafting and discarding a false document" that stated the prime minister and defence minister had endorsed martial law. Yoon has refused to attend questioning since he was detained, but appeared in court on Friday at a hearing to argue for his warrant to be cancelled. The ex-president's legal team told reporters that Yoon defended himself for over 30 minutes, and mentioned his "limited physical mobility and the challenges he was facing". The court denied the request.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Korea's ex-president indicted for abuse of power
Disgraced South Korean ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted for abuse of power Saturday over his declaration of martial law last year, as investigators widened an insurrection probe. Yoon plunged South Korea into a political crisis when he sought to subvert civilian rule on December 3, sending troops to parliament in a bid to prevent lawmakers voting down his declaration of martial law. He became the first sitting president in the country to be taken into custody when he was detained in January after resisting arrest for weeks, using his presidential security detail to thwart investigators. He was released on procedural grounds in March, even as his trial on insurrection charges continued. Last week he was detained again after an arrest warrant was issued over concerns he might destroy evidence in the case. The prosecution "indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges including abuse of power and obstruction of special official duties", prosecutor Park Ji-young told reporters Saturday. Park said Yoon also did not follow the required procedure to declare martial law, including holding a meeting with all cabinet members of the government. Yoon was also charged with "drafting and discarding a false document" that stated the prime minister and defence minister had endorsed martial law. Yoon has refused to attend questioning since he was detained, but appeared in court on Friday at a hearing to argue for his warrant to be cancelled. The ex-president's legal team told reporters that Yoon defended himself for over 30 minutes, and mentioned his "limited physical mobility and the challenges he was facing". The court denied the request. Yoon is being held in solitary in a cell which has a fan but no air-conditioning, as a heat wave grips South Korea. hs/fox
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Korea's ex-president indicted for abuse of power
Disgraced South Korean ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted for abuse of power Saturday over his declaration of martial law last year, as investigators widened an insurrection probe. Yoon plunged South Korea into a political crisis when he sought to subvert civilian rule on December 3, sending troops to parliament in a bid to prevent lawmakers voting down his declaration of martial law. He became the first sitting president in the country to be taken into custody when he was detained in January after resisting arrest for weeks, using his presidential security detail to thwart investigators. He was released on procedural grounds in March, even as his trial on insurrection charges continued. Last week he was detained again after an arrest warrant was issued over concerns he might destroy evidence in the case. The prosecution "indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges including abuse of power and obstruction of special official duties", prosecutor Park Ji-young told reporters Saturday. Park said Yoon also did not follow the required procedure to declare martial law, including holding a meeting with all cabinet members of the government. Yoon was also charged with "drafting and discarding a false document" that stated the prime minister and defence minister had endorsed martial law. Yoon has refused to attend questioning since he was detained, but appeared in court on Friday at a hearing to argue for his warrant to be cancelled. The ex-president's legal team told reporters that Yoon defended himself for over 30 minutes, and mentioned his "limited physical mobility and the challenges he was facing". The court denied the request. Yoon is being held in solitary in a cell which has a fan but no air-conditioning, as a heat wave grips South Korea. hs/fox
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
S. Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol indicted on multiple charges including abuse of power
SEOUL, July 19 — Disgraced South Korean ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted for abuse of power Saturday over his declaration of martial law last year, as investigators widened an insurrection probe. Yoon plunged South Korea into a political crisis when he sought to subvert civilian rule on December 3, sending troops to parliament in a bid to prevent lawmakers voting down his declaration of martial law. He became the first sitting president in the country to be taken into custody when he was detained in January after resisting arrest for weeks, using his presidential security detail to thwart investigators. He was released on procedural grounds in March, even as his trial on insurrection charges continued. Last week he was detained again after an arrest warrant was issued over concerns he might destroy evidence in the case. The prosecution 'indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges including abuse of power and obstruction of special official duties', prosecutor Park Ji-young told reporters Saturday. Park said Yoon also did not follow the required procedure to declare martial law, including holding a meeting with all cabinet members of the government. Yoon was also charged with 'drafting and discarding a false document' that stated the prime minister and defence minister had endorsed martial law. Yoon has refused to attend questioning since he was detained, but appeared in court on Friday at a hearing to argue for his warrant to be cancelled. The ex-president's legal team told reporters that Yoon defended himself for over 30 minutes, and mentioned his 'limited physical mobility and the challenges he was facing'. The court denied the request. Yoon is being held in solitary in a cell which has a fan but no air-conditioning, as a heat wave grips South Korea. — AFP
