South Korea’s former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been formally indicted once again this time on charges of abuse of power related to his controversial martial law declaration, prosecutors announced on Thursday.
This latest indictment, though not accompanied by detention, further deepens the legal woes of the 64-year-old former leader, who is already on trial for allegedly leading an insurrection.
The case centres on Yoon’s December 3 declaration of martial law, which aimed to halt democratic governance in the country.
According to prosecutors, under Yoon’s directive, armed troops were deployed to the National Assembly in an effort to enforce the martial law order.
However, the decree collapsed just six hours later after opposition lawmakers physically scaled fences to gain access to the building and successfully annulled the directive through a vote. The move led directly to Yoon’s impeachment by parliament.
The Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment in April, stripping Yoon of his presidential authority and privileges and forcing him to vacate the official residence.
Prosecutors had initially indicted Yoon in January while he was still in office accusing him of orchestrating an insurrection, a crime not shielded by presidential immunity.
“We have since proceeded with the [insurrection] trial while conducting supplementary investigations into the abuse of power allegation, leading to this additional indictment,” the prosecution said in a statement.
Yoon was arrested in mid-January after resisting authorities during a standoff but was later released in March due to procedural issues.
The latest charge follows a recent raid on Yoon’s private residence in Seoul, carried out as part of a separate corruption probe involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee, and a shaman allegedly gifted extravagant items on her behalf.