SEOUL, South Korea — On Thursday, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea made an appearance in court for a session in which his legal team challenged the legitimacy of his arrest. He faces serious accusations related to a supposed conspiracy to stage a rebellion when he declared martial law for a brief period in December.
Security measures were intensified as President Yoon’s convoy reached the Seoul Central District Court, where many supporters gathered to rally in his favor nearby. The hearing served as a preliminary step to discuss potential witnesses and prepare for his criminal trial, including a consideration of a request made by his attorneys to annul his arrest and secure his immediate release. However, such appeals are usually met with little success in the legal process.
Yoon was indicted on January 26 for the rebellion charge, which carries severe penalties, including the possibility of life imprisonment or even the death penalty. While South Korean presidents typically enjoy protection from most criminal charges, they are not exempt from allegations of rebellion or treason. The indictment claims that Yoon’s decision to impose martial law was an unlawful effort to dissolve the National Assembly and apprehend political figures as well as election officials. Yoon, who identifies with conservative principles, has defended his actions as a necessary short-term measure aimed at cautioning the opposition, insisting he would honor the legislative authority if they chose to revoke the martial law directive.
Following his impeachment on December 14, Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended, and the Constitutional Court is currently deliberating whether to officially remove him from the presidency or annul the impeachment, allowing him to retake his position. The martial law he declared lasted only around six hours but has incited considerable political unrest, disturbed high-level diplomatic relations, and posed challenges to the endurance of democratic governance in the nation. Supporters of Yoon clashed violently at the Seoul Western District Court after the court sanctioned his arrest last month, while his defense team and political allies have openly criticized the integrity of the judicial and law enforcement systems handling the situation.
Despite the turmoil, Yoon has consistently shown disdain for his liberal counterparts, claiming they are obstructing his political agenda, and has promoted unfounded conspiracy theories about election fraud to rationalize his controversial, authoritarian attempts to seize control. Furthermore, key figures in his administration, including his defense minister, police chief, and various military leaders, have also been arrested and charged with rebellion, abuse of power, and other offenses linked to the martial law declaration, which involved a significant deployment of armed troops to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission headquarters.
