South Korean MP denounces president for insurrection

The South Korean Public Ministry on Sunday (26) denounced the country’s president, Yoon Suk-yeol, for allegedly leading an insurrection and for abusing his power by declaring martial law in December last year.

The complaint, the first in South Korean history for a sitting president under preventive detention, was made two days before the end of a period of imprisonment for Yoon to be interrogated.

Yoon, who has been under preventive detention since the 15th, was formally charged by the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the request of the Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Office (CIO).

Earlier in the day, a Seoul court had denied two successive requests by the prosecution to extend Yoon’s arrest warrant for questioning after he repeatedly refused to testify to the CIO.

The prosecution decided to proceed with the indictment after analyzing the available evidence in the case and judging that this was the best option before Yoon’s detention period expired.

By law in South Korea, a suspect can be held in detention for a maximum period of 10 days unless an order to extend the period is granted or the suspect is formally charged.

The CIO investigation claims that Yoon conspired with then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and other military personnel to start a mutiny, declaring martial law on the night of December 3.

He is also accused of abuse of power for sending troops to Parliament to prevent deputies from repealing martial law.

If Yoon is found guilty of insurrection, a crime for which a South Korean president has no immunity, he could be sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty, a moratorium on which has been in place in South Korea since 1997.

In parallel with this criminal process, the Constitutional Court is holding a trial to determine whether or not to maintain the impeachment approved by Parliament on December 14th.

If South Korea’s highest court confirms the president’s disqualification, early elections will have to be called within 60 days of the decision.