Prosecutor Park Ji-young announced today that "the prosecution has indicted former president Yoon Suk-yeol on charges including abuse of power and obstruction of justice".

Park added that Yoon failed to follow mandatory procedures for declaring martial law, including holding a meeting with all cabinet members.

Yoon is also accused of "drafting and then destroying a forged document" that stated the prime minister and defense minister supported martial law.

Yoon Suk-yeol attends his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on 21/1. Photo: Reuters

Yoon Suk-yeol attends his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on 21/1. Photo: Reuters

Yoon plunged South Korea into a political crisis when he declared martial law on 3/12/2024, deploying troops to the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers from voting to reject his declaration.

He became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested in January, after weeks of resisting an arrest warrant and having his presidential security detail obstruct investigators. The Constitutional Court removed Yoon from office in April after he was impeached by the National Assembly.

He was released on procedural grounds in March but re-arrested last week due to concerns he might destroy evidence in the ongoing investigation.

Since then, Yoon has refused to participate in questioning, but appeared in court on 18/7 for a hearing to request the cancellation of his arrest warrant. The court denied his request.

Vu Hoang (According to AFP)