Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted on Saturday for abuse of power, following his controversial declaration of martial law last year, as authorities expanded an ongoing insurrection investigation.
Yoon sparked a constitutional crisis on 3 December when he deployed troops to parliament in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from overturning his imposition of martial law—an act seen as an effort to undermine democratic governance.
He became the first sitting South Korean president to be taken into custody when authorities arrested him in January. He had resisted arrest for several weeks, relying on his presidential security team to shield him from investigators.
Though he was released on procedural grounds in March, his trial on insurrection charges continued. Last week, Yoon was detained once more after a court issued an arrest warrant citing concerns he might tamper with evidence.
“The prosecution has indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges including abuse of power and obstruction of official duties,” Prosecutor Park Ji-young announced on Saturday.
Park stated that Yoon failed to follow the legal procedures required to declare martial law—such as convening a full cabinet meeting. He was also charged with “creating and later destroying a fabricated document” that falsely claimed the prime minister and defence minister had endorsed the declaration.
Since his re-arrest, Yoon has refused to participate in questioning, but he did appear in court on Friday to appeal for his warrant to be withdrawn. His legal team reported that he spoke for over 30 minutes, citing his limited mobility and the difficulties he was facing in detention.
The court, however, rejected the appeal.
Yoon is currently held in solitary confinement in a cell with a fan but no air-conditioning, as South Korea endures an intense heatwave.