Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been re-arrested in connection with an ongoing independent investigation into his controversial declaration of martial law in December last year.
The Seoul Central District Court approved the re-arrest warrant early Thursday morning, citing concerns over potential destruction of evidence.
This marks a dramatic escalation in the legal fallout from Yoon’s short-lived but highly controversial attempt to override the country’s democratic process.
Yoon’s martial law declaration, which lasted only six hours before being blocked by parliament, triggered a constitutional crisis and widespread condemnation.
Lawmakers had stormed the National Assembly to vote unanimously against the decree, forcing a reversal.
Yoon was initially detained in January on insurrection charges — becoming the first sitting South Korean president ever arrested while in office. Though a technical issue led to his release in March, the Constitutional Court unanimously removed him from office in April, calling his actions a “grave betrayal of the people’s trust.”
Now, Yoon faces fresh charges including: Abuse of power, Obstruction of official duties, Deployment of troops to block lawmakers, Allegedly ordering the use of force to break into the National Assembly, Obstruction of investigations by the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), Concealing presidential communication records
According to a leaked arrest warrant, Yoon attempted to impose martial law to counter growing political gridlock and to undermine the opposition-dominated National Assembly, including targeting now-President Lee Jae-myung, who succeeded Yoon after a June snap election.
Despite these denials, independent prosecutors maintain that Yoon’s actions were part of a deliberate effort to retain power and suppress constitutional governance.
