South Korea’s Ex-President Yoon Begins Insurrection Trial

South Korea’s Ex-President Yoon Begins Insurrection Trial

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will appear in court on Monday for his first criminal trial on charges of insurrection, following his brief and controversial imposition of martial law in December that threw the nation into political chaos.

Recall that on December 3, Yoon took a major step to impose military rule by ordering a suspension of political activities and the censorship of the media.

However, the decree was swiftly overturned, lasting only six hours before opposition lawmakers voted it down.

Yoon’s actions prompted the National Assembly to impeach him shortly after, and on April 4, the Constitutional Court formally removed him from office.

Now stripped of his presidential immunity, Yoon faces criminal proceedings that could see him sentenced to life imprisonment—or even the death penalty—if convicted.

During a preliminary hearing in February, Yoon’s legal team successfully argued that his detention was procedurally flawed, resulting in his release 52 days after his January arrest during a dawn raid.

Yoon had resisted law enforcement for weeks, becoming the first sitting South Korean president ever to be arrested.

On Friday, the 64-year-old former leader vacated the presidential residence and returned to his private home in Seoul, where he was met by supporters.

“Now, I return to being an ordinary citizen of the Republic of Korea, and I will seek a new path in service of our country and our people,” he said in a statement.

Following Yoon’s removal, South Korea will hold a snap presidential election on June 3 to choose his successor.