Korea’s Yun acting for rebellion over martial law attempt

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was charged with rebellion after attempting to declare martial law in December.

His ill-fated attempt to impose military rule plunged the country into an unprecedented political crisis and he became the first sitting president in South Korean history to be charged with a crime.

The indictment comes after a court in Seoul on Saturday rejected Yoon’s request to extend his detention, which meant prosecutors had to decide whether to charge or release him before Monday.

“The punishment of the ringleader of the rebellion now finally begins,” a Democratic Party spokesman said at a press conference.

Separately, the Constitutional Court has begun deliberations on whether to formally dismiss Yun as president or reinstate him.

The impeached president has largely refused to cooperate with criminal investigation On martial law declaration.

Yun is set to stand trial along with his former defense minister and senior military commanders, accused of helping plan and attempt to seize total power.

In an unprecedented televised announcement on December 3, Yun said he was calling for martial law to protect the country from “anti-state” forces that sympathized with North Korea.

At the time, the embattled leader was in an impasse over a budget bill, surrounded by corruption scandals and several of his cabinet ministers were under investigation.

The military announced that all parliamentary activities were suspended and sought to impose controls on media outlets.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, urged people to protest in the National Assembly and asked his fellow lawmakers to immediately vote to repeal the order.

Less than two hours after Yun’s announcement, the 190 lawmakers who gathered – including some from the president’s party – voted unanimously to block it.

Soldiers armed with rifles were seen entering the Parliament building through smashed windows in a dramatic confrontation.

Thousands of citizens gathered in front of the assembly and tried to block the soldiers.

Yun was impeached by the parliament and suspended from his duties on 14 December.

The relationship has sparked South Korea’s worst political crisis in decades and polarized the country.

Many of his hard-line supporters have rallied around him. On Friday, tens of thousands of people gathered to protest, demanding that he be released and returned to office.

If Yun is removed from office, a presidential election will be held within 60 days.

The prosecutors’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.