The arrested former president of South Korea has been charged with crimes.

Thus, Yoon Suk Yeol became the first sitting president of South Korea in history to face official criminal charges following an arrest. Yoon had already undergone impeachment proceedings and was suspended from presidential duties before his arrest, but the Constitutional Court may still restore his powers.

Yoon Suk Yeol was detained on January 15, and on January 19, a district court in Seoul issued a warrant for his arrest. According to "Yonhap," the deadline for his pre-trial detention was approaching on Monday – he had to either be formally charged or released. The defense team for the suspended president criticized the prosecution's decision to file charges, calling it "the worst choice." Meanwhile, the opposition welcomed the decision.

On December 3, 2024, after a prolonged conflict with the parliamentary opposition, Yoon announced the declaration of martial law in the country. Political parties, protests, and strikes were banned, and the decree suspended the work of parliament, imposed censorship, and established military tribunals.

Yoon is suspected of having simultaneously ordered the military to arrest members of parliament to prevent them from rescinding the presidential decree. Deputies voted to lift the martial law while the military was attempting to seize the parliament building. After the deputies' vote, the military returned to their barracks, and the decree was revoked. Following this, the deputies voted a second time for the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, and on January 15, the ousted president was detained. This sparked mass protests from supporters of Yoon Suk Yeol.