South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk-yeol has been indicted for abuse of authority, adding to his legal troubles as he faces an ongoing trial for insurrection charges related to his short-lived martial law declaration in December 2024, Yonhap news agency reported. The latest indictment, issued without arrest on Thursday, stems from supplementary investigations into Yoon’s actions during his presidency, prosecutors said.
Yoon, who was ousted by the Constitutional Court on April 4, 2025, following his impeachment, declared martial law on December 3, 2024, accusing the opposition of paralyzing his government. The decree, which deployed armed soldiers to parliament, lasted only six hours before being overturned by lawmakers. This sparked South Korea’s worst political crisis in decades, leading to Yoon’s impeachment and arrest in January 2025, a historic first for a sitting president.
The insurrection trial, which began in April 2025, could result in life imprisonment or, though unlikely, the death penalty due to South Korea’s moratorium on executions since 1997. Prosecutors allege Yoon sought to undermine the constitution by attempting to paralyze state institutions. Yoon denies the charges, claiming his actions were a “message” to address opposition overreach.
On Wednesday, investigators raided Yoon’s private residence in Seoul, probing bribery allegations involving his wife, Kim Keon-hee, and a shaman. With a snap presidential election set for June 3, 2025, Yoon’s legal battles continue to polarize the nation, deepening political divides.
