SEOUL – South Korean authorities have requested prosecutors to charge President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is currently in detention, for his brief implementation of martial law in the prior month. They have leveled accusations of rebellion, power abuse, and obstruction of parliament against him.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials alleged that Yoon incited a “riot” and aimed to subvert the constitution by announcing martial law on December 3rd, deploying troops and law enforcement to lock down the National Assembly.
During a televised briefing, Lee Jae-seung, the deputy chief prosecutor at the CIO, stated that Yoon misused his authority by mobilizing troops for an unauthorized purpose and endeavored to impede parliament’s right to vote on lifting martial law.
Despite the presence of armed troops, lawmakers managed to enter the assembly chamber and called for an end to the emergency decree in a unianimous vote. The assembly later impeached Yoon, suspending his presidential powers, and the Constitutional Court is now deliberating to determine whether to formally throw Yoon out of office or reinstate him.
Yoon has steadfastly maintained that his actions were intended to issue a warning to the opposition-controlled parliament over its obstruction of his agenda, rather than to disrupt its work.
The Corruption Investigation Office has been leading a probe into Yoon with police and military authorities, and detained him last week.
“As you know, despite facing a nationally grave allegation as ringleader of a rebellion, the suspect has been constantly maintaining uncooperative stance and defying criminal judicial proceedings,” Lee said.
Yoon rebuffed efforts to question him for weeks and used the presidential security service to repel a first attempt to detain him.
Yoon argues that the investigation and his detention are illegal.
Yoon’s defense team issued a statement accusing the CIO of “humiliating” Yoon by trying to pressure him to speak to investigators and abusing his human rights by preventing him from contacting family members. Yoon has refused to participate in questioning since being detained, citing his right to remain silent.
Appearing at a Constitutional Court hearing for the first time on Tuesday, Yoon denied that he ordered the military to drag lawmakers out of the National Assembly to prevent them from voting. Commanders of military units that were sent to the assembly have testified that Yoon ordered them to pull lawmakers out.
Yoon’s martial law decree has shaken South Korean politics and financial markets and hurt its international image. Yoon’s subsequent defiance and the opposition’s push to oust him have also intensified South Korea’s already-serious internal divide.
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