Seoul, South Korea – July 19, 2025 – South Korea's former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was indicted today on a new slate of criminal charges, including abuse of power, related to his controversial and short-lived declaration of martial law in December of last year. The indictment, brought forth by a special prosecutor's team, ensures the ousted leader will remain in detention as he faces a widening legal battle.
The new charges were filed against Mr. Yoon, who is already on trial for insurrection, a charge that carries a potential life sentence or the death penalty. Today's indictment focuses on the alleged illegal processes and actions surrounding the martial law decree. Prosecutors accuse Mr. Yoon of abusing his presidential authority by failing to seek and obtain approval from the entire cabinet for the emergency measure, a requirement under South Korean law.
According to the prosecutor's office, the additional charges include obstruction of the exercise of others' rights, ordering the deletion of official records, and fabricating an official document to justify his actions.
Mr. Yoon plunged South Korea into a deep political crisis on December 3, 2024, when he declared martial law and dispatched troops to the National Assembly, which was controlled by the opposition. The move was swiftly condemned and ultimately thwarted when lawmakers managed to convene and vote to overturn the decree within hours.
The political fallout was swift and severe. Mr. Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly and subsequently, the Constitutional Court unanimously voted to formally remove him from office in April 2025, paving the way for a snap election. His successor, President Lee Jae Myung, approved legislation for an independent counsel to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the martial law declaration.
Mr. Yoon, who has been held at the Seoul Detention Center since earlier this month, has consistently denied all wrongdoing. He has maintained that his actions were a necessary attempt to counter what he described as "anti-state forces" and political gridlock caused by the opposition.
The indictment today marks another significant chapter in the downfall of the former prosecutor-turned-president, underscoring the severe legal and political consequences of his attempt to impose martial law. His trial on the insurrection and these new charges will be closely watched across the nation and internationally.