South Koreas president charged with insurrection over declaration of martial law
CNNJan 26
South Korea's Yoon Charged with Insurrection
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Above: Impeached Pres. Yoon Suk Yeol attends a hearing in his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court on Jan. 21, 2025, in Seoul, South Korea. Image copyright: Kim Hong-Ji/Pool/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
South Korean prosecutors on Sunday formally indicted impeached Pres. Yoon Suk Yeol on insurrection charges related to his brief declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, making him the first sitting president in the country's history to face criminal charges while in office.
The martial law declaration — which lasted approximately six hours — involved sending armed troops to the National Assembly, where soldiers equipped with rifles and body armor entered through smashed windows during a confrontation with lawmakers.
Following the martial law incident, parliament impeached Yoon on Dec. 14, suspending him from presidential duties. He was subsequently arrested on Jan. 15, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to be detained.
The Spin
Narrative A
The martial law declaration was a calculated attempt to seize total power, evidenced by the deployment of armed forces to parliament, orders to arrest political leaders, and efforts to control media outlets. Yoon's actions were intended to exclude state authority and disrupt the constitutional order, thereby inciting riots and destabilizing the South Korean democracy.
Narrative B
Yoon's declaration of martial law can't be recognized as insurrection. The declaration was a legitimate act of governance intended to raise awareness about the danger posed by the liberal-controlled National Assembly, which was paralyzing the government and sympathizing with North Korea. The deployment of troops was merely to maintain order, not to seize power.
