South Korea President Yoon indicted for insurrection over martial law decree

South Korea's prosecutors have indicted impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of leading an insurrection after his brief declaration of martial law on December 3, the main opposition party confirmed on Sunday. This marks an unprecedented legal action against a South Korean president. If convicted, Yoon could face severe penalties, including life imprisonment or even the death penalty, though the latter has not been enforced in decades.

The martial law decree, which lasted only six hours, sought to ban political and parliamentary activity while imposing control over the media. The move triggered political turmoil in South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy and a key U.S. ally. Following the martial law incident, the prime minister was also impeached and suspended, and several high-ranking military officials were indicted for their roles in what prosecutors are calling an insurrection.

Yoon, a former top prosecutor, has been in solitary confinement since his arrest on January 15, making him the first sitting president in South Korea to face such a situation. His arrest came after a tense, armed standoff between his security detail and law enforcement officers. Prosecutors had earlier sought to extend his detention, but the court denied their requests twice. However, with the formal indictment now in place, they have renewed their push for continued custody.