Yoon Suk Yeol, a former prosecutor and ex-President of South Korea, has been ousted by the Constitutional Court. Despite this, his legal woes continue. He still faces criminal charges for masterminding an insurrection during his brief imposition of martial law on Dec. 3. This trial commenced in February and is still in progress.
Prosecutors claim that Yoon committed insurrection when he outlawed all political activities and instructed military leaders to forcibly enter the National Assembly. They contend he ordered them to use axes or even shoot if necessary and “drag out” lawmakers. Yoon has consistently denied these accusations, arguing that he imposed martial law to safeguard the nation against “anti-state forces” infiltrating the government.
Even if he is found guilty in the criminal case, there is a possibility that he might not serve a lengthy prison term. In South Korea, many former imprisoned presidents have been released early. For instance, Park Geun-hye was pardoned in 2021 after serving less than five years of her 20-year sentence for bribery.
Yoon Suk Yeol’s presidency was fraught with controversies and scandals. Following his narrow victory in the 2022 elections, he quickly became an unpopular and divisive leader. As president, he used legal means and criminal investigations to suppress speech that he referred to as disinformation, targeting news organizations in particular.
Additionally, Yoon was accused of abusing his authority for personal gain. He pressured the Defense Ministry to cover up an investigation into the death of a South Korean marine in 2023 and vetoed a bill proposing a special prosecutor to investigate the claim. His wife, Kim Keon Hee, was also embroiled in controversy when spy cam footage showed her accepting a $2,200 Dior pouch as a gift.
Yoon’s presidency saw strained relations with North Korea, which had reached historic lows. He called for promoting the idea of freedom in the North to counter the information blackout there and expanded joint military drills with the US and Japan. North Korea, in turn, increased its nuclear capabilities and declared South Korea as an enemy rather than a partner for reunification.
Yoon Suk Yeol leaves behind a government without an elected leader, and a presidential poll must be held within 60 days. The former president expressed gratitude for the support he received and apologized for not meeting expectations. He will have to leave the official residence and move back to his private home in Seoul, where he will continue to have protection from the presidential security services.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/world/asia/skorea-yoon-next.html
